- Nepal PM KP Sharma Oli and President Paudel resigned after two days of violent protests killed 19 people
- Protests led by Gen Z - which began over a ban on social media - targeted corruption and demanded PM to resign
- Protesters set fire to government buildings, including the private homes of Mr Oli and President RC Poudel
Nepal Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli resigned Tuesday after two days of violent anti-corruption agitations - led by 'Gen Z protesters' - killed 21 people and injured around 100. "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," he wrote President Ram Chandra Paudel.
"The PM has quit," his aide Prakash Silwal later confirmed. Visuals showed Mr Oli leaving from his office in a military helicopter. Shortly afterwards the Nepal government's Chief Secretary issued a fervent appeal for calm. "... as the resignation of the Honourable PM has been accepted, we sincerely urge all citizens to exercise restraint to prevent further loss of life and property in this critical situation..."
Mr Oli's resigation was followed by Mr Paudel also quitting.
One of the big questions now is who will replace Mr Oli. Kathmandu Mayor Balendra Shah and parliamentarian Sumana Shrestha are reportedly seen as candidates favoured by the protesters.
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Earlier today Mr Oli, 73, chaired a meeting of all political parties, and said 'violence is not in the interest of the nation'. We have to ensure a peaceful dialogue to find solutions to this problem, he said.
Mr Oli's resignation was a core demand of the Gen Z protesters.
In Nepal, however, the Prime Minister standing down, however, does not automatically mean the government falls. Mr Oli was the head of the executive and Mr Paudel the head of the government.
For now, the fate of the Nepali government is unclear.
There are reports the Army will step in till order is restored and a new government is installed.
If true, that will mirror unfortunate events in Sri Lanka in 2022 and Bangladesh in 2024. In both those cases anti-corruption protests forced the Mahinda Rajapaksa and Sheikh Hasina's governments to fall,
And, in both cases, the respective militaries were deployed or became involved.
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There is also speculation the country could revert to a monarchy; a 239-year-old monarchy was abolished in May 2008, but there continues to be periodic demands for the 'return of the king'.
Mr Oli's resignation was confirmed hours after protesters invaded government buildings - including Parliament, the private residences of Mr Oli and Mr Paudel - and set them on fire.
Violent anti-corruption protests broke out in Nepal this week.
Visuals showed a war-like situation in capital Kathmandu, with small armies of young men and women occupying public spaces and engaged in pitched battles with the cops.
Plumes of acrid black smoke covered the cityscape. City streets were dotted with burning cars and trucks. And protesters swarmed the walls and gates of the private residences of Mr Oli and Mr Paudel.
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Protesters also entered the Singha Durbar - the office of various Nepalese ministries and government offices - after breaking through its western gate, local media The Himalayan Times said.
A protest that began 36 hours ago afrer a ban on social media platforms, including Facebook, X, and YouTube, quickly spiralled into a condemnation of corruption in the Nepali government and criticism of its failure to ensure the economic development of the country.
"We are standing here for our future ... We want this country corruption-free so everyone can access education, hospitals, medical (facilities) ... and for a bright future," protester Robin Sreshtha said.
Protesters clashed with Nepal Police on Monday and Tuesday.
"Stop the ban on social media. Stop corruption, not social media," protesters shouted.
Mr Oli's government rolled back the ban but that was not enough to placate protesters.
Hundreds took to the streets shouting slogans about corruption in the administration, including allegations of nepotism, i.e., unfair advantages for the children of those in powerfil positions.
They carried placards with slogans like 'shut down corruption and not social media', 'unban social media', and 'youths against corruption' as they marched through Kathmandu, while videos with hashtags like #NepoBabies, and #PoliticiansNepoBabyNepal flooded social media.
With the police struggling to contain, or even respond to the violence, the Army was deployed; local media outlet The Kathmandu Post said members of the government - those who had not yet resigned or distanced themselves from the corruption-accused in the government - were being evacuated.
The ferocity of the protests was underlined by the city's Tribhuvan International Airport being effectively shut down. Arrival of planes from the southern side was closed because of poor visibility due to the smoke from fires set by protesters in areas nearby, aviation authority official Gyanendra Bhul said.
Air India, meanwhile, has cancelled several flights to and from Kathmandu and two IndiGo flights - one from Mumbai and the other from Delhi - were diverted to Lucknow.
The Indian government has issued an advisory for its citizens, warning against unneccesary travel to Nepal till the situation there has "stabilised". Indian citizens in Nepal are advised to shelter in place and avoid going out on the streets, and also pay heed to warnings or advisories issued by the authorities.
With input from agencies
