"We have to resort to peaceful dialogue"
Nepal’s Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli has resigned following violent anti-corruption protests that erupted after a controversial social media ban.
His aide Prakash Silwal told Reuters: “The PM has quit.”
The resignation came as demonstrators defied an indefinite curfew and clashed with police, a day after 19 people were killed.
Unrest escalated on September 8 when police fired tear gas and rubber bullets at protesters trying to storm parliament, leaving dozens injured.
The government lifted the social media ban shortly after the violence, which exposed growing anger at state censorship and corruption.
Before stepping down, Mr Oli convened a cross-party meeting.
He said: “We have to resort to peaceful dialogue to find solutions to any problem.”
He added that violence was not in Nepal’s interests, calling for unity amid the worst unrest the country has seen in decades.
The crisis has highlighted deep frustrations in the Himalayan nation, which has struggled with economic uncertainty and political instability since its monarchy was abolished in 2008.
Last week, authorities blocked 26 social media platforms for failing to register with Nepal’s Ministry of Communication and Information Technology.
The ban targeted global platforms, including Instagram and Facebook, which are widely used in Nepal for news, business, and daily communication.
Officials defended the move as an effort to curb fake news, hate speech, and online fraud. Critics saw it as an attack on digital freedom.
Anger intensified among young Nepalis, many of whom viewed the ban as authoritarian. Protesters chanted “enough is enough” and “end to corruption” during Monday’s demonstrations.
Some protesters hurled stones at Oli’s residence in his hometown of Damak, underscoring growing hostility towards the now-former prime minister.
Following KP Sharma Oli’s resignation, anger against the government continued with protesters gathering outside parliament and other significant locations in the Nepali capital of Kathmandu.
Some demonstrators set fire to tyres, threw stones at riot police and chased them through the streets.
It is reported that the homes of some politicians had been set on fire, while some ministers were taken to safety by military helicopters.
Nepal now faces political uncertainty as parties negotiate a way forward, with pressure mounting to address corruption and restore public trust.
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