Nepal PM Oli quits as anti-corruption protests spiral
Nepal has been thrown into fresh political chaos after Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli resigned on Monday, just a day after some of the deadliest protests the country has seen in decades.
Oli's aide Prakash Silwal confirmed to reporters: “The PM has quit.” The announcement came as protesters defied a round-the-clock curfew, setting homes on fire and clashing with security forces.
The immediate trigger for the unrest was last week’s social media ban, which many young people saw as yet another attempt by the government to silence dissent. But the protests—driven by Gen Z demonstrators—quickly morphed into a broader anti-corruption movement, tapping into years of frustration over political inaction and mismanagement. When police fired rubber bullets and tear gas on crowds trying to storm parliament on monday, 19 people were killed and more than 100 injured. The ban was lifted soon after, but the damage had already been done.
The situation on the ground today was nothing short of chaotic. Oli’s private residence in Balkot, Bhaktapur, was set ablaze early in the morning, while furious crowds tried to breach security barriers outside his compound. As violence spread, the Nepali Army airlifted ministers from their Bhaisepati residences after several arson attacks and acts of vandalism targeted the homes of senior officials. Two cabinet ministers have also stepped down in the wake of the unrest.
With Oli’s departure, the military has taken on a bigger role, moving troops to protect parliament and shelter top officials in army barracks. But the images of burning houses, helicopters ferrying fleeing politicians, and tear-gassed protesters paint a stark picture of a government losing its grip.
This wave of unrest is being described as Nepal’s most serious crisis since the abolition of the monarchy in 2008. The small Himalayan nation, sandwiched between India and China, has been plagued by political instability for years—cycling through governments at breakneck speed, struggling to deliver economic growth, and often paralyzed by corruption scandals.
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