Thousands of Nepal’s youth hit the streets in unprecedented protests on Monday (September 8, 2025) following a sweeping government ban on major social media platforms. The unrest, which began with peaceful demonstrations, turned violent, leaving at least 19 dead and over 400 injured. Authorities imposed curfews in Kathmandu and other cities after protesters breached the Parliament premises and targetted the homes of politicians.
Nepal Prime Minister K.P. Sharma Oli resigned on Tuesday as Gen Z-led protests escalated in Kathmandu and other parts of the country for a second consecutive day. Mr. Oli’s secretariat confirmed his resignation.
Also Read: Nepal protests Updates: Social media ban lifted; death toll climbs to 19
What triggered the protests?
The immediate spark was the government’s decision on September 4 to block 26 social media platforms, including Facebook, WhatsApp, Instagram, X, and YouTube, after they failed to comply with a deadline to register locally, appoint grievance handlers, and remove flagged content. Issuing a public notice, the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology had said it “has ordered the Nepal Telecommunication Authority to make inactive all non-registered social media sites until they are registered.”
