Nepal has been plunged into a profound political crisis as Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli has resigned from his post, a stunning capitulation to a massive, youth-led protest movement that has brought the nation to a standstill. His departure came just hours after he reportedly sought military assistance to control the escalating chaos and secure his own safe exit, only to be advised by the Army Chief to step down. The resignation marks a dramatic victory for the "Gen Z Revolution," a movement that began over a social media ban but quickly morphed into a powerful and violent uprising demanding the ouster of the entire government.
The final hours of Oli's premiership were marked by a government in a state of collapse, seemingly losing control of the capital. According to army sources, the Prime Minister spoke with Nepal Army Chief General Ashok Raj Sigdel, requesting military intervention. However, the Army Chief reportedly made it clear that the military could only move to stabilize the volatile situation if Oli relinquished power, effectively sealing his political fate.
This loss of control was vividly illustrated by the scenes unfolding across Kathmandu. In a dramatic airlift operation, at least a dozen helicopters were deployed to evacuate ministers and other government officials from their besieged residences to the city's international airport. The escalating unrest, including calls on social media for protesters to disrupt flight operations, ultimately forced authorities to shut down Tribhuvan International Airport completely, cutting the capital off from the outside world.
Even as the government's authority crumbled, the fury on the streets only intensified. A second day of protests saw demonstrators escalate their tactics, moving from clashes with police to direct attacks on the symbols of state power. In a shocking act of defiance, protesters set fire to Nepal's Parliament building and vandalized the private residences of both the Prime Minister and the President.
These actions demonstrated that the movement's demands had moved far beyond the initial trigger. The government's announcement that it was revoking the controversial social media ban did nothing to quell the anger. The protesters, galvanized by the deaths of at least 20 of their own in the previous day's crackdown, were no longer interested in concessions; they were demanding the complete removal of the ruling establishment. In his final hours, Oli made a desperate appeal for peace and called for an all-party meeting, but his pleas for dialogue were drowned out by the roar of a revolution that would not be denied.
Prime Minister Oli's resignation is a watershed moment for Nepal. It represents the culmination of a powerful, digitally-organized youth movement that successfully channeled widespread frustration over corruption, inequality, and censorship into a force capable of toppling a government. However, the victory comes at a steep price, with dozens dead and a nation deeply scarred by violence. With the government dismissed and the capital under a fragile military-enforced calm, Nepal now stands at a precarious crossroads, facing an uncertain future in the wake of a successful but bloody popular uprising.
· Prime Minister Resigns: Nepal's Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli has resigned amid escalating and deadly "Gen Z" protests that have engulfed the nation.
· Army Chief's Intervention: The resignation reportedly came after the Nepal Army Chief advised Oli to step down when the Prime Minister requested military assistance to control the situation.
· Government Loses Control: Protesters set fire to the Parliament building and the President's residence, while ministers and officials had to be evacuated from the capital by helicopter.
· Protests Continue Despite Concessions: The demonstrations intensified even after the government announced it was revoking the social media ban that initially sparked the unrest, with protesters demanding the ouster of the entire government.
