KATHMANDU — The streets of Nepal’s capital and other major cities have descended into chaos as a youth-led uprising, fueled by years of frustration over corruption and inequality, escalated into violent clashes that left government leaders fleeing by helicopter and symbols of state power in flames. What began as an online campaign targeting the privileges of political elites has exploded into a full-fledged revolt, challenging not just a government but a system that many young Nepalis see as irredeemably broken.
From Social Media Outrage to Street Revolt
For months, TikTok, Instagram, and Reddit had been flooded with videos exposing the lifestyles of Nepal’s political families — images of luxury cars, foreign education, and lavish vacations contrasted against the struggles of ordinary citizens, many of whom are forced to migrate abroad for work. The children of politicians were labeled “Nepo Kids,” accused of living off taxpayers’ money while the country stagnated.
In response, Prime Minister K.P. Sharma Oli’s government attempted to stamp out the movement by banning social media platforms. Instead, the move only intensified anger. Within days, thousands of young people poured onto the streets, turning a digital protest into a national insurrection.
Violence Targets Leaders and Institutions
On Tuesday, demonstrators stormed neighborhoods of Kathmandu, torching the private residences of President Ram Chandra Paudel and Prime Minister Oli. The homes of several ministers and party leaders were vandalized, including those of Prachanda, the Maoist Centre chairman, and Sher Bahadur Deuba, president of the Nepali Congress. Even the headquarters of Nepal’s oldest political party was set ablaze.
Tribhuvan International Airport, the country’s main gateway to the world, was shut down as over 300 soldiers were deployed. Helicopters shuttled government ministers and their families out of danger, underlining the gravity of a movement that now directly threatens the state’s ability to govern.
A Generation’s Breaking Point
The protests are unlike anything Nepal has witnessed since the 2006 People’s Movement that ended the monarchy. This time, the anger is not directed at one leader or party, but at a political class seen as having betrayed an entire generation.
Young Nepalis say they have grown weary of watching leaders trade power while offering little progress on jobs, education, or infrastructure. The gap between ruling elites and struggling citizens widened during the pandemic and deepened with rising inflation and outmigration. The “Nepo Kids” campaign gave that frustration a rallying cry.
A Government on the Brink
By Tuesday night, chants for Oli’s resignation echoed in Kathmandu Valley. Protesters demanded not only the fall of his government but also a wholesale reimagining of Nepal’s democracy.
“The government thought it could silence us by banning TikTok,” said a 22-year-old student protester. “Instead, they showed us why we must fight harder.”
What began as an attempt to suppress dissent online may now mark the unraveling of an entire political order. Whether Oli’s government survives the week remains uncertain. But the message from Nepal’s youth is unmistakable: their patience has run out.