Nepal in Crisis: Corruption, Censorship, and Gen Z’s Revolt

Nepal’s mountains are no stranger to storms — but this one rose from its streets. What began as a youth-led outcry – the Gen-Z Protests - against a sweeping social media ban has spiralled into deadly clashes, arson, and political collapse. At least 22 people are dead, the Prime Minister has resigned, and the army is patrolling the streets of Kathmandu. From Parliament to private homes, no symbol of power has been spared. Beneath the flames lies a deeper anger: corruption, nepotism, and a generation that refuses to be silenced.

What Triggered the Protests?

The spark was the Nepalese government’s sudden ban on 26 major social media and messaging platforms, including Facebook, X, and YouTube. Officials said the decision was aimed at tackling misinformation, fake identities, and hate speech, while also requiring companies to register with the government. TikTok, Viber, and a handful of platforms were exempted because they had complied with these rules.

Newsweek noted that nearly two million Nepalese live abroad, sending money home and staying in touch with families through these very apps. The ban severed that lifeline, adding to public fury.

Resentment over corruption had been boiling for years. Al-Jazeera pointed to scandals like a 2017 Airbus deal, where the purchase of two A330 jets left the exchequer with losses of 1.47 billion rupees ($10.4m). A five-year investigation by the Commission for the Investigation of Abuse of Authority (CIAA) led to several convictions, but public trust remained shattered.

Youth unemployment — estimated at nearly 20% — has deepened the frustration, alongside broader political instability: Nepal has seen 13 different governments since 2008, underlining widespread disillusionment with the ruling class.

The Nepo Kid Movement

Adding fuel was the viral “Nepo Kid” campaign. The Kathmandu Post reported how videos on TikTok exposed the lavish lifestyles of politicians’ children while ordinary youth migrated abroad for menial jobs. Time explained the term was borrowed from Hollywood’s “nepo baby” debate, describing children of elites who benefit from family privilege.

One viral TikTok post — shared under hashtags like #PoliticiansNepoBabyNepal, #NepoKids, and #NepoBabies — racked up more than 1.3 million views and asked: “Nepo Kids show off their lifestyle on Instagram and TikTok, but never explain where the money comes from.”

As one student protester, 27-year-old Aayush Basyal, told Al-Jazeera, movements in Sri Lanka (2022) and Bangladesh (2024) inspired Nepalese youth. Seeing “Nepo Kids” flaunt wealth while per capita income hovers at $1,300 pushed frustrations onto the streets.

A similar trend is emerging in the Philippines, particularly in connection with controversial flood-control projects where billions of pesos in public funds have allegedly been misused on so-called “ghost projects.” The children of powerful politicians and affiliated contractors implicated in the scandal are being called out online for flaunting lavish lifestyles believed to be funded by taxpayers’ money. In response, citizens have taken to social media to engage in what they’re calling “lifestyle policing” of these so-called “nepo babies.”

What’s Happening on the Ground?

The protests erupted on Monday in New Baneshwar, where Nepal’s Parliament sits. Time reported demonstrators demanded not only the lifting of the ban but also Prime Minister K.P. Sharma Oli’s resignation and the creation of an independent anti-corruption watchdog.

Even after the government rolled back the ban, unrest spread nationwide. The BBC noted slogans like “enough is enough” and “end to corruption.” The Guardian cited placards reading “Shut down corruption and not social media,” “Unban social media,” and “Youths against corruption.”

Clashes quickly escalated. AFP reported protesters breached restricted zones, prompting police to fire tear gas and water cannons. Ranjana Nepal, an official at a hospital that received injured protesters, told AFP that tear gas even entered hospital wards: “I have never seen such a disturbing situation at the hospital.”

By Tuesday, chaos engulfed Kathmandu. The New York Times reported that protesters torched homes of politicians, set fire to Parliament and the Supreme Court, and attacked hotels and airports. The wife of one former official was badly burned, while Rajyalaxmi Chitrakar, wife of ex-prime minister Jhalanath Khanal, died after her home in Dallu was set ablaze. Oli’s own house was torched, and he resigned soon after.

Al-Jazeera reported that military helicopters evacuated ministers from besieged houses. Protesters ransacked the prime minister’s residence and torched the Singha Durbar government complex. Viral videos showed former PM Sher Bahadur Deuba and his wife, along with Foreign Minister Arzu Rana and Finance Minister Bishnu Paudel, being attacked before soldiers intervened.

Curfews were imposed around parliament. The BBC quoted Army spokesman Rajaram Basnet confirming soldiers had been deployed. The Kathmandu Post reported that Home Minister Ramesh Lekhak resigned during a cabinet meeting.

The UN’s human rights chief, Volker Turk, said he was “appalled” by the violence and called for dialogue. Reporters Without Borders (RSF) warned that the Kantipur Media Group’s headquarters had been set on fire, urging protesters not to target journalists.

The casualty toll remains contested. While at least 19 people have been confirmed dead, sources including Reuters and Wikipedia note that injuries may number well over 100, with some reports citing up to 347 wounded.

Jailbreaks Amid the Chaos

As the protests spiralled, the unrest also spread to Nepal’s prisons. Officials confirmed that hundreds of inmates escaped during two separate jailbreaks in western districts.

According to the Kaski District Police Office, 773 prisoners fled when protesters stormed the jail premises on Tuesday afternoon. In Dang province, the Area Police Office in Tulsipur reported that 127 inmates escaped from Tulsipur Jail during similar disturbances.

BBC Nepali’s Phanindra Dahal reported that local media are also citing additional jailbreak incidents in other districts, though these remain unconfirmed.

Who is Sudan Gurung?

At the heart of the protests is a new face: Sudan Gurung (in image - image source Gurung's Facebook/amc). In a post on newly restored Instagram, he declared: “The Nepal government has fallen, the youth have won the protest. The future is ours.”

NDTV reported that Gurung, 38, heads the youth-driven NGO Hami Nepal, known for post-earthquake rehabilitation and emergency relief. After losing his child in the 2015 earthquake, Gurung left event management to found the NGO in 2020. Today it has more than 1,600 members and was listed in Business 360 Nepal’s “100 People to Watch.”

The Annapurna Express detailed how Gurung channelled personal tragedy into civic activism, while Hami Nepal mobilised support across disasters in Kavre, Sindhupalchok, and Dolakha. Before this protest, he had led demonstrations for transparency at the BP Koirala Institute of Health Sciences in Dharan.

Last week, Hami Nepal urged students on Instagram and Discord to gather at Maitighar Mandala on September 8, even sharing videos titled “how to protest” with instructions to attend in uniform, books in hand.

The Military Steps In

As protests raged, the Nepal Army assumed control of the capital. Army chief Ashok Raj Sigdel, in a televised address, appealed to demonstrators:

“We appeal to the protesting group to halt protest programmes and come forward for dialogue for a peaceful way out for the nation. We need to normalise the present difficult situation and protect our historical and national heritage and public as well as private property, and to ensure safety to the general public and diplomatic missions.”

Despite this, protests continued across Kathmandu, Pokhara, Birgunj, Butwal, Bhairahawa, Damak, and Itahari — all placed under curfew.

Prime Minister Oli, in his final remarks, blamed what he called “external interference” for escalating the unrest.

What Does This Mean for the Region?

With Oli’s resignation, Nepal faces a dangerous power vacuum.

India condemned the killings and urged its citizens to avoid travel. It heightened vigilance along its mostly open border but said it does not expect protests to spill over. The U.S. called on all sides to refrain from violence. The UN and human rights groups demanded independent investigations into the use of force.

The government has promised compensation for victims, free medical treatment for the injured, and the creation of a formal investigation panel expected to deliver recommendations within 15 days.

According to experts, both India and China are watching closely. While India has issued advisories and helplines for its citizens, China has remained silent. India Today observed parallels with Sri Lanka in 2022 and Bangladesh in 2024, where youth-driven anti-corruption protests toppled governments.

What’s Next for Nepal?

For now, Nepal remains under curfew, its streets patrolled by soldiers and its people restless despite the lifting of the social media ban. Prime Minister Oli’s resignation has opened a political vacuum, and the promise of an inquiry offers little comfort to families mourning the dead and the wounded.

The protests have laid bare more than anger at censorship. They have exposed years of frustration with corruption, political instability, and a generation’s lost trust. From TikTok to the streets of Kathmandu, young Nepalis have made it clear that their voices cannot be muted — not by fire, nor by force.

As the world watches, the question for Nepal is no longer just how to restore order, but whether its leaders can rebuild legitimacy with a generation that has already shown it is willing to burn the old order down.

-Asia Media Centre