Protests in Nepal and the Fall of the Government

Abstract

Traditionally regarded as a buffer state between India and China, Nepal experienced in September 2025 a wave of massive protests, largely led by the so-called Generation Z, following the government’s ban on 26 social platforms that had failed to comply with new regulations on data control and digital content. The measure was widely perceived as an attempt at censorship and a restriction of freedom of expression, triggering a swift mobilization of young people in Kathmandu and other cities. The demonstrations, harshly repressed by security forces, soon expanded to include broader demands linked to the economic crisis, high youth unemployment, mass emigration, and the structural dependence on remittances sent by the Nepali diaspora, which remain a key source of national income. The protests also revealed growing discontent toward the traditional political class, criticized for nepotism, clientelism, and the lack of generational renewal. The escalation of the crisis culminated in the resignation of Prime Minister K. P. Sharma Oli, the formation of an interim government headed by Sushila Karki, and a commitment to hold general elections in March 2026. This text analyzes the process within the regional framework of South Asia, considering the geopolitical, economic, and social tensions that shape Nepal’s fragile stability.