Nepal’s Prime Minister Resigns Amid Turmoil Over Protests and Social Media Ban

Nepal’s Prime Minister has announced his resignation, stepping down after days of escalating protests and deadly clashes that left several people dead and dozens injured across the capital.

The resignation follows mounting public anger over the government’s controversial decision to ban major social media platforms including Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp, YouTube, and X  and frustration with what demonstrators describe as unchecked corruption. The protests, largely driven by Nepal’s Gen Z youth, swelled into one of the largest street movements the country has seen in recent years.

Over the past week, thousands marched in Kathmandu chanting “Stop corruption, stop the ban”, breaking through barricades around parliament. Security forces responded with tear gas, water cannons, and live rounds, sparking international concern after at least six people were killed in clashes.

The Prime Minister, facing growing criticism both domestically and abroad, said in his resignation speech that he was taking “moral responsibility” for the crisis but defended his government’s decision to regulate social media, claiming it was necessary to safeguard national security.

With the resignation, Nepal is bracing for a period of political uncertainty. Opposition parties have called for fresh elections, while protesters say their movement will continue until the ban on social media is fully lifted.

The power vacuum raises serious questions about Nepal’s stability as the country grapples with economic challenges and a generation of young citizens demanding transparency, accountability, and greater digital freedoms.