Nepal’s youth-led uprising reshapes government, protests death toll tops 70

KATHMANDU: Young Nepalis have overthrown their government, in a deadly wave of protests, forcing prime minister KP Sharma Oli to resign and paving the way for a new interim leadership.

The protests, largely mobilised via the social media app Discord by a group called Hami Nepal (We Are Nepal), have now led to the appointment of former Chief Justice Sushila Karki as Nepal’s first female prime minister. Karki was sworn in on Sunday and has been tasked with stabilising the country and preparing for elections scheduled for March 5, 2026.

Also read: Nepal PM Oli resigns amid spiralling anti-corruption protests

Meanwhile, authorities raised the death toll from the unrest to 72 on Sunday, with more than 2,100 people injured, making it Nepal’s deadliest political crisis in decades. Bodies continue to be recovered from buildings and government offices that were torched by protesters across Kathmandu and other cities.

FROM DJ BOOTH TO POLITICAL CATALYST

At the center of the revolution is Sudan Gurung, a 36-year-old former DJ and founder of Hami Nepal. Gurung and his loosely organised team of young activists used VPNs and encrypted channels to coordinate mass protests and push a bold anti-corruption message.

“We don’t want to be politicians. We are the voice of the nation,” said Ronesh Pradhan, a 26-year-old volunteer. Hami Nepal has said that it will not take cabinet positions but will remain involved in selecting capable, youth-focused leadership.

Gurung has become a key figure in post-protest negotiations, alongside rising youth leaders such as Ojaswi Raj Thapa, a 24-year-old cafe owner, and Rehan Raj Dangal, a law graduate. Their online campaign, run primarily through Instagram and Discord, grew rapidly, with more than 160,000 followers engaging in real-time protest planning and information sharing.

VIOLENCE FUELED BY SOCIAL MEDIA BAN

The unrest erupted after the government imposed a ban on several social media platforms, an attempt to stifle growing dissent. Instead, it ignited outrage. Protesters, most in their teens and twenties, poured into the streets. Government buildings, police posts, politicians’ homes, and even the Supreme Court were attacked or set ablaze.

The health ministry confirmed that many victims were found inside shopping centers, residential buildings, and offices that had been torched. The government is now offering compensation of 1 million rupees ($7,100) to the families of those killed, and free treatment for the wounded.

A NEW CHAPTER FOR NEPAL

On Sunday, Hami Nepal leaders were engaged in ongoing meetings with PM Karki to finalise cabinet appointments. The group has called for the removal of officials tied to the previous administration and is pushing for a transparent, youth-led selection process.

“We’re building a government that represents the people, not just politicians,” Gurung said at a press conference, which was briefly disrupted by a scuffle with unidentified individuals.

Also read: Nepal names CJ Sushila Karki as interim PM, calls March polls

Prime Minister Karki, known for her anti-corruption stance during her time on the bench, pledged to begin rebuilding destroyed infrastructure immediately and restore public trust.

“We must now engage in rebuilding the destroyed structures and institutions,” she told senior officials.