The week-long protests in Nepal, which started on Sept. 8 and were fueled by a social media ban and corruption — commonly referred to by various media as the Gen Z protests — were organized by 36-year-old Sudan Gurung, a Nepalese DJ and founder of the non-commercial activist organization Hami Nepal (translation: We Are Nepal), and led to the installation of the country’s new interim government, Reuters reported.
Using the Discord messaging app, popular among gamers, along with Instagram, Gurung and his supporters were able to gather young people for large-scale protests. The latest toll stands at 72 dead and more than 1,300 injured. The demonstrations forced former Prime Minister K.P. Sharma Oli to resign and pushed for the appointment of former Chief Justice Sushila Karki — recognized for her strong position on fighting corruption — as interim prime minister. The protests also led to new elections scheduled for March 5.
According to the outlet, Gurung, Karki, and members of the group were in talks on arranging the interim cabinet, with one member saying that the composition would be finalized soon.
Gurung and his team have pledged not to take cabinet positions but expressed their intention to participate in future decision-making.
