Prime Minister of Nepal Khadga Prasad Sharma Oli, commonly known as K.P. Sharma Oli, resigned on Sept. 9 amid escalating anti-corruption protests. Demonstrators flouted an indefinite curfew and clashed with police in Kathmandu and other cities, with unrest intensifying on Sept. 8. The resignation came after at least 19 people were killed in protests triggered by a social media ban, according to Reuters.
When the protests escalated on Sept. 8, Nepalese authorities lifted the social media ban that had been imposed on Sept. 4, citing the platforms’ failure to register with the government. The restrictions had affected major platforms, including Facebook, Instagram and YouTube.
Organizers described the protests as “demonstrations by Gen Z,” driven by young people’s frustration with the government’s perceived inaction on corruption and limited economic opportunities.
“In view of the adverse situation in the country, I have resigned effective today to facilitate the solution to the problem and to help resolve it politically in accordance with the constitution,” Oli said in his resignation letter to President Ramchandra Paudel, cited by the news agency.
According to Reuters, the President accepted Oli’s resignation and has initiated consultations to select a successor.
