Allegations of foreign interference have surfaced, particularly regarding the role of the United States. Government officials and pro-Oli media outlets have pointed fingers at Washington, claiming the protests were orchestrated or amplified by U.S. interests to counter Nepal's growing ties with China.

In a dramatic turn of events that has gripped the Himalayan nation, Nepal's Prime Minister KP. Sharma Oli and President Ram Chandra Paude resigned today amid escalating youth-led protests that have left at least 19 dead and the capital city in chaos. The fall of Oli's government, which began as a backlash against a sweeping social media blackout, has exposed deep-seated corruption, economic woes, and a growing generational divide.

What started as digital discontent just over a week ago has snowballed into the most significant political upheaval in Nepal since the 2006 pro-democracy movement, forcing not only the prime minister's ouster but also President Ram Chandra Paudel and the entire political establishment. The protesters torched the country’s parliament, reisdences of the PM and other ministers and beaten the country’s finance minister. The Nepal Army rescued several political leaders and shifted them to a safe place while several other minister reportedly fled the country.

The crisis unfolded rapidly in late August, rooted in long-simmering frustrations over governance in the landlocked republic sandwiched between India and China. Nepal, a federal democratic republic since the abolition of its monarchy in 2008, has endured a turbulent political landscape marked by frequent coalition shifts and allegations of nepotism. Oli, a veteran leader of the Communist Party of Nepal (Unified Marxist-Leninist), assumed power in 2021 through a controversial alliance with the Nepali Congress, promising stability and economic recovery post-COVID. However, critics accused his administration of cronyism, with scandals involving public fund misuse and opaque deals with foreign powers—particularly China—eroding public trust.

The immediate trigger came on August 31, when the government imposed a nationwide ban on 26 social media platforms, including Facebook, Instagram, Twitter (now X), and YouTube. Officially justified as a measure to curb "misinformation" and "cyber threats" amid rising online criticism of government policies, the ban was widely seen as an authoritarian clampdown to silence dissent. Youth activists, particularly Generation Z students and urban professionals, viewed it as a direct assault on free expression in a country where social media has become a vital tool for organizing and amplifying voices against inequality.

Protests erupted almost immediately in Kathmandu, Pokhara, and Biratnagar. On September 1, thousands of young demonstrators—many in their teens and twenties—took to the streets, chanting slogans like "#SarkarDown" (Government Down) and "#VoiceOfGenZ." They demanded not just the lifting of the ban but also Oli's resignation, an end to corruption, and fresh elections. "We are not against the constitution; we are against those who have hijacked it," said 22-year-old student leader Aastha Sharma, speaking to reporters outside Tribhuvan University. Social media, accessed via VPNs and smuggled hotspots, fueled the movement, with viral videos of police crackdowns spreading globally.

The government's response only intensified the fury. On September 2, security forces clashed with protesters in Durbar Square, using tear gas and rubber bullets. Reports from human rights groups like Amnesty International documented excessive force, including live ammunition in some instances. By September 3, the death toll stood at five, including two teenagers shot during a peaceful sit-in. The Home Minister, Rabi Lamichhane—a former media personality turned politician—defended the actions, blaming "foreign-backed agitators" for the unrest. However, this only galvanized more support, drawing in opposition parties like the Maoist Centre and even some within Oli's own coalition.

As the protests spread to all seven provinces by September 4, economic paralysis set in. Internet shutdowns affected businesses, remittances from Nepali migrant workers abroad—vital to the economy—stalled, and tourism, a key revenue source, ground to a halt with flights canceled amid airport blockades. International observers, including the United Nations, condemned the violence and urged dialogue. India and China, Nepal's giant neighbors, watched warily; New Delhi expressed concern over border stability, while Beijing reportedly pressured Oli to restore order to protect Belt and Road Initiative projects.

The tipping point came on September 7, a Sunday that turned deadly. In Kathmandu's Thamel district, a crowd of over 10,000 youth clashed with police, leading to the bloodiest day yet. Eyewitnesses described security forces firing into the crowd, killing 14 people, including several minors. Graphic videos flooded alternative platforms like Telegram, showing injured protesters and burning barricades. Lamichhane, under immense pressure, offered his resignation the next day, September 8, admitting "regret" but stopping short of a full apology. The cabinet, in a frantic meeting, voted to lift the social media ban entirely, but it was too late—the streets remained ablaze.

Oli's coalition began fracturing. Allies from the Nepali Congress withdrew support, citing the humanitarian crisis, while Maoist leaders called for his immediate ouster. On September 9, as fresh protests defied a curfew and drew tens of thousands more, Oli addressed the nation from his residence in Baluwatar. In a somber 10-minute speech, the 73-year-old prime minister announced his resignation, effective immediately, to "preserve peace and democracy." He dissolved the cabinet and urged President Ram Chandra Paudel to initiate consultations for a new government under Article 100 of the constitution, which allows the president to appoint a new prime minister or call elections.

The president's role has now come under scrutiny. Paudel, a veteran Congress leader elected in 2023, has been criticized for his perceived inaction during the crisis. Opposition voices, including former Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal (Prachanda), have accused him of partisanship, demanding his resignation as well to ensure a neutral transition. "The presidency cannot stand aloof while blood is spilled," Dahal said in a statement. While Paudel has not resigned, reports suggest intense behind-the-scenes negotiations at the Presidential Palace in Maharajgunj, with envoys from India mediating to prevent further escalation. If Paudel steps down, it would mark the first such ouster since the republic's inception, potentially leading to an interim council and snap elections by December.

Economically, the World Bank estimates losses could exceed $500 million, exacerbating poverty in a nation where 25% live below the line. For the youth, this uprising—dubbed the "Gen Z Revolution"—represents a watershed, echoing Bangladesh's recent student-led ouster of Sheikh Hasina. "We won't stop until corruption falls," vowed protester Rajan Thapa, 19, amid chants outside parliament.

The ban targeted American-owned platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube, leading some to speculate it was a flashpoint in broader geopolitical tensions. Social media buzzed with unverified claims of CIA funding for youth groups, drawing parallels to U.S.-backed color revolutions elsewhere. While the U.S. Embassy issued a joint statement with other Western nations expressing sorrow over the violence and calling for restraint, critics like Lamichhane accused USAID programs—long active in Nepal's democracy and governance initiatives—of indirectly stoking dissent. No concrete evidence has emerged to substantiate these claims, but they have fueled conspiracy theories, with some analysts suggesting the narrative serves to deflect from domestic failures. The U.S. State Department has denied any involvement, emphasizing support for peaceful democratic processes.

As Nepal navigates this uncertain path, the world watches a small nation's youth challenge a entrenched elite, reminding us that in the digital age, silencing voices online can ignite fires offline. With Oli's exit, the focus shifts to forming a unity government, but the demands for systemic change echo louder than ever.