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On September 8, 2025, protesters in Kathmandu, Nepal stood at a roadblock and shouted slogans
On Monday of this week, thousands of young people took to the streets of Nepal to protest against corruption and the government's ban on social media websites, and clashed with security forces, resulting in at least 14 deaths.
After protesters entered the capital's parliament building and confronted the police, a curfew was imposed in some areas of Kathmandu.
The following is the cause of the demonstration known as the 'Youth Protest' and the latest situation in the area.
When did the protests in Nepal begin?
The protest began at 9am local time on Monday (03:15 Greenwich Mean Time).
Where are the protesters marching?
Protesters gathered in the Metigal district of Kathmandu. The block includes a busy road intersection, featuring the Metigara Mandala Monument - one of the most iconic landmarks in the city.
What happened during the 'Generation Z protests'?
Ayush Basiar, a 27 year old master's student from Kathmandu who was at the protest site at the time, said that the "unprecedented number of participants" in this demonstration.
However, Brazilian Yar added that as the protests progressed, "a group of burly men rode noisy motorcycles through the crowd, creating chaos". He said that it was this group of people who broke through the roadblock and entered the parliament building. Al Jazeera cannot independently verify this claim.
Brazilian Yar stated that high school and university students were also involved, some of whom were still wearing uniforms. He said, 'It's shocking that I haven't seen any participants related to any political party.'. What is behind the 'Generation Z protests' in Nepal?
The growing dissatisfaction of young Nepalese people with the country's corruption was reflected in Monday's demonstration.
Brazilian Yar said that corruption incidents in recent years have sparked protests, and "these corruption incidents are often discussed in public and in parliament, but it seems that a fair conclusion has never been reached.
This includes a transaction between Nepal Airlines and Airbus in 2017, in which Nepal Airlines purchased two A330 wide body aircraft. The supervisory body established under Nepal's constitution, the Commission on Abuse of Authority (CIAA), conducted a 5-year investigation and disclosed last year that the transaction resulted in a loss of 1.47 billion rupees (approximately 10.4 million US dollars) to the country's treasury. After the investigation, several senior officials were convicted of corruption.
Brazilian Yar stated that the protests in Sri Lanka and Bangladesh, which led to the downfall of the regimes in these two South Asian countries in 2022 and 2024 respectively, have ignited the enthusiasm of the Nepalese people for protests. In the Philippines, photos of children of public figures enjoying a luxurious lifestyle have recently sparked criticism on social media. Brazilian Yar added that this has also sparked protests in Nepal, as some videos have appeared on TikTok showing the children of Nepalese politicians living a luxurious life in a country with an average annual income of only $1300 per person.
Ankit Bhandari, a 23-year-old student from Kathmandu, was also present at the protest site at the time. He told Al Jazeera reporters that the protest seemed to stem from "frustration over having to pay taxes without a 'formal record' of their use.
The government announced on September 4th that it would block multiple social media platforms, including Facebook, exacerbating public anger.
Yog Raj Ramichane, an assistant professor at the Business School of Nepal's Bokala University, told Al Jazeera reporters, "The protests were sparked by the frustration and distrust of authority among young people, who feel excluded from decision-making
Although the recent ban on social media platforms has intensified the riots, the root cause of dissatisfaction is long-standing, rooted in the long-term neglect and suppression of the voices of young people
The non-profit organization Hami Nepal launched a youth movement in 2015 and organized a protest on Monday of this week. According to the Kathmandu Regional Administrative Office, the organization's activities have been approved.
Ramichane stated that the core of their demands is to call for the rule of law, fairness, accountability, and to demand justice to overcome favoritism and corruption.
Why is Nepal blocking social media websites?
The Nepalese government has blocked 26 social media platforms, including WhatsApp, Facebook, Instagram, Linkedin, and Youtube.
Before the ban came into effect, the government gave these social media websites a week to register with the Nepalese government. These websites must complete registration with the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology of Nepal before September 3rd.
To avoid being shut down in Nepal, these websites must designate a local contact person, an appeal handler, and a person responsible for self-regulation.
On the second day after the deadline, the Nepalese government issued a directive to the regulatory agency Nepal Telecommunications Authority (NTA) to shut down websites that did not comply with regulations. A department official who declined to be named told Reuters reporters that some platforms, including TikTok, Viber, and Wetalk, have registered with the government.
According to the government, users using false identities on these platforms are engaging in malicious behavior and cybercrime to disrupt social harmony. According to a report issued by Nepal Telecommunications Authority in 2021, about 90% of Nepal's 30 million people use the Internet.
As of 2021, approximately 7.5% of Nepal's population resides overseas and relies on platforms such as Meta Messenger to stay in touch with their families in their hometowns. Many Nepalese people have switched to Viber to stay in touch with their families and friends working overseas.
Brazilian Yar said, 'This is too sudden', which is' disheartening 'for a country with a large overseas population.
What is the latest situation locally?
The Kathmandu Regional Administrative Office has implemented a curfew in and around the New Banneswall area, located approximately 3 kilometers from Metigar.
Previously, some protesters broke through the roadblocks set up by the police and entered the parliament building in New Barneswall.
The curfew order was signed by Chief Regional Officer Chabilal Rijal to prohibit gatherings in and around the area from Monday 12:30 (06:45 Greenwich Mean Time) to 22:00 (16:15 Greenwich Mean Time).
The curfew has been extended to other areas of Kathmandu, including the Presidential Palace and Vice Presidential Palace. It should be pointed out that the Presidential Palace is 6.3 kilometers away from Medegar, while the Vice Presidential Palace is about 4.3 kilometers away from the initial protest site.
The police used tear gas and water guns against the protesters. According to local media reports, protesters retaliated with tree branches and water bottles. According to the non-governmental organization "Hami Nepal" communication channel, the authorities fired rubber bullets at the protesters.
Brazilian Yar said he "saw people being hit by rubber bullets, bleeding, and being carried onto ambulances". He also stated that the police used tear gas and water guns to disperse the protesters.
Police fired at protesters, resulting in a total of 14 deaths. The identity of the deceased has not been determined yet. The Kathmandu Post reported that they died of serious injuries while receiving treatment at the Kathmandu Metropolitan Hospital and National Trauma Center.
Local news media also reported that dozens of protesters were injured in the shooting and are currently receiving treatment in different hospitals in Kathmandu, including Kathmandu Metropolitan Hospital and Mount Everest Hospital.
Dr. Dipendra Pandi from Nepal's National Trauma Center told The Kathmandu Post that 10 people in the hospital have suffered gunshot wounds to the head and chest, and their condition is critical. In addition, more than 20 people are receiving treatment. |
