Nepalese Prime Minister resigns amid deadly protests, mounting public outrage

Nepalese Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli resigned from office on September 9, following days of nationwide protests that turned deadly, leaving 19 people dead and over 400 injured. His resignation was confirmed by his secretariat and marks the collapse of a government increasingly accused of authoritarianism and systemic failure.

The announcement came after demonstrators vandalised key government buildings, including the Parliament, and set fire to the private residences of top officials. The protests, spearheaded by Gen Z activists, erupted in response to widespread allegations of corruption, nepotism, and the government’s recent ban on social media platforms—a measure that was reversed but left deep public resentment in its wake, Caliber.Az reports, citing foreign media.

The unrest reached a boiling point on September 8 when police opened fire on unarmed demonstrators, killing at least 19 protesters, many of them students, and injuring more than 400 others. The violence triggered outrage across the country and intensified calls for Oli’s resignation, with protesters and human rights groups holding his administration directly responsible for the bloodshed.

Oli had been serving his fourth term as Prime Minister since July 2024, having returned to power with the support of the Nepali Congress. His earlier terms spanned 2015–16, 2018–21, and briefly again in 2021. Despite early promises of delivering stability and prosperity, Oli's tenure was marked by growing disillusionment over rising authoritarian tendencies and a failure to curb deep-rooted corruption.

Known for his assertive political style and nationalist rhetoric, Oli’s exit signals the end of a turbulent era in Nepalese politics. His administration’s decision to use lethal force against protestors was widely condemned both domestically and internationally, prompting cabinet resignations and sparking an unrelenting wave of youth-led demonstrations.

As protests continued across Kathmandu and other major cities on September 9, demonstrators vowed to sustain pressure on the political establishment until genuine accountability and systemic reforms are achieved. With Oli's resignation, the future of Nepal’s leadership remains uncertain, while the voices of its youth continue to call for sweeping change.

By Vafa Guliyeva