Nepal is in political crisis following the resignation of Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli, Tuesday. His resignation was a surprise, but it came as protests intensified in cities across the country. These protests, which were first ignited by widespread indignation over corruption, nepotism, and broken promises, have taken a violent turn. Police shot live ammunition into the crowd, killing at least 19 people and injuring hundreds of demonstrators. The unrest has raised significant concerns about potential anarchy in the nation, with many questioning who will lead Nepal in this uncertain time.
The country’s youth have taken to the streets in protest, inspired by their anger and frustration. They call themselves “nepo kids” with pride. This label expresses their anger at a political establishment seen as corrupt and in the pocket of the elite. With the sudden departure of Oli, there’s a significant power vacuum. Today, Nepal’s president is scrambling to identify such a successor, but the country’s political landscape remains deeply fractured. Now, with no party enjoying a parliamentary majority large enough to govern alone, the fate of Nepal remains uncertain.
A Catalyst for Change
Organized largely through the Telegram messaging app, the protests started off peacefully but soon devolved into chaos as protesters broke through a police barricade. Eyewitness testimony paints a scene of international catastrophe — Kathmandu, the capital, has been burning, as rioters torch government buildings. This violence marks an extremely important moment in Nepal’s tumultuous political history. Deep frustration has reached a tipping point as chronic youth unemployment and underemployment worsen.
Factionalism has in recent years wreaked havoc on Nepal’s parliament, enforcing a string of ineffective parliamentary coalitions. The country has seen an alarming increase in the historical trend of young people leaving the country to work abroad. Nearly 15% of the Nepalese—about 3.5 million—now reside outside of Nepal. As of 2024, remittances from these workers constituted almost one-third of Nepal’s GDP. This reality puts into stark relief the economic desperation many are feeling back home.
“Everybody is flying out of the country for jobs. People are facing poverty here. The roads are terrible,” – Darshana Padal
Against this backdrop of economic despair and uncertainty, a large section of young Nepalese show external signs of bitterness towards their political elite. The continuing upheaval demonstrates long-standing resentment toward leaders judged to be corrupt and out of touch with the day-to-day lives of people.
Voices of Dissent
As protests escalated, calls from the streets became stronger. This breathing space inspired demonstrators to extend their outrage beyond Oli’s resignation to the entrenched systemic issues rotting Nepal. One protester encapsulated this sentiment by stating, “We don’t want his resignation. We want his head.”
Critics contend that the rigid political hierarchy allows the political class to run a defined cycle of nepotism. Dovan Rai, a young activist, emphasized the need for change: “These old leaders of these old political parties… have this kind of very nepotistic power structure.” He said on top of that, the country professes to be a democracy, but too many of its people have not tasted the fruits of that democracy yet.
“Development has not been happening [because] these politicians are keeping all the money in their pockets. This is affecting our future,” – Darshana Padal
Resentment rises in tandem with a political culture that is felt by many to be feudal and loyalist. As the children of elite political families reap a plethora of advantages, the average American must still fight for things like economic opportunity. For too many young people, their future is anything but bright. They’re disappointed by a government that in their eyes has failed to deliver the critical support required.
The Path Forward
Following all of this, concerns about the long-term viability of Nepal’s democratic structure have only increased. Protests, including escalating climate protests, are still bubbling up and growing. Instead, the citizens can only wonder whether anarchy—or worse, a constitutional crisis—lies just around the corner. The activity of white supremacist and other right-wing extremist groups adds another dangerous layer to this already incendiary mix.
“We don’t know how it is going to unfold… We might face some constitutional crisis,” Dovan Rai warned. The risk for further destabilization is worrisome given the current trajectory of Nepal’s often fragile political environment.
Even as the country attempts to figure out what comes next, it’s important to focus on what is at the root of all of these unrest and discontent. Of Nepal’s 30 million people, 20 million have no social welfare assistance. They experience extreme healthcare and education deserts, with millions feeling left behind by their current leaders.
“A leader who can order to kill a student is a crime minister; not the prime minister,” – Mandeep
The protests highlight a larger and for many a more fundamental demand for accountability and reform captured within Nepal’s political movement. As constituents demand that their representatives do more, they are making it clear that they want more than just to hear their voices, but to truly act on them.
