Nepal is burning – literally and politically.
What began as a protest driven by the youth against corruption and government elitism has spiraled into one of the most violent revolts the Himalayan nation has seen in years.
In a matter of days, the streets of Kathmandu went from peaceful rallies to war zones, as previously covered by The Dallas Express. And now, both the Parliament and the Supreme Court have been set ablaze, and Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli has resigned under the heavy pressure mounting from the mobs of teens and college-aged kids.
At least 30 people are dead as of Thursday morning in connection with the revolt, per The BBC, with more than 1,000 wounded.
What sparked this? A government ban on over 20 social media apps, including Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp, platforms young Nepalis rely on daily to do things like communicate with their family abroad, or to organize political rallies. But the deeper fuel was alleged anger at the continued financial corruption, growing youth unemployment rates, and the open flaunting of wealth by the children of politicians, dubbed “Nepo Kids.”
For many young Nepalis, the lack of jobs while politicians continued to flaunt their wealth was the last straw.
In 2024, nearly 21% of Nepalis aged 15–24 were unemployed according to the World Bank, pushing large numbers of young people to seek jobs overseas or in other neighboring countries.
The protests began as a demand for accountability. But as the momentum grew, the violent mob mentality has infiltrated the movement: looting businesses, storming the prime minister’s home, and torching government buildings like Nepal’s parliamentary building.
Reports from the BBC confirm that nearly 900 inmates escaped from prisons in western Nepal during the chaos.
In scenes eerily reminiscent of last year’s student-led uprising in Bangladesh, some demonstrators seen in viral social media videos appeared to be celebrating on the ruins of Singha Durbar. This historic palace houses Nepal’s government offices.
Video footage of the destruction, posted by @WarHorizon on X, included the following caption: “Singha Durbar, the seat of the Nepali govt has been burnt down by the protestors. In less than 48 hours the Gen Z crowds have taken out the entire Government. They didn’t destroy Public property. They went at every politician, their homes and offices, within half a day and thew them out of power.”
The Nepali Army has called for dialogue and better communication, urging citizens to avoid further bloodshed. The president has made similar appeals, while protesters continue to push for a generational change in Nepal’s political leadership.