Nepal Begins to Rebuild After Intense Anti-Corruption Protests

Author: Vera Rousseff

September 16, 2025

HRRC commends the bravery of Nepal’s youth in protesting against corruption and inequality in their country. We stand with the people of Nepal as they rebuild their nation and prepare for elections.

During a ceremony held in Kathmandu on September 13, people commemorate those who died during the recent anti-corruption protests in Nepal. [Image credit: Navesh Chitrakar/Reuters]

In the aftermath of the fierce anti-corruption protests that rocked Nepal last week, the country and its people are starting to rebuild. 

On Friday, Nepal’s newly appointed interim prime minister promised that she would not hold power for more than six months, announcing that elections had been set for March 5 of next year. Sushila Karki, the country’s former chief justice and first female prime minister, was appointed as interim prime minister after last week’s protests forced Prime Minister K.P. Sharma Oli to resign and flee his residence. Karki was a popular figure during her time as chief justice, in large part thanks to her strong stance against government corruption. Her appointment was the result of careful negotiations between the president, the army, and protest leaders.

Since taking office, Karki has urged calm and cooperation. As of last weekend, the death toll from the protests had reached 72. Karki announced that monetary compensation of 1 million rupees—equivalent to approximately 11,330 USD—would be given to families of protesters who died during the demonstrations. The country must also work to repair infrastructure damaged during the protests, including the parliament building—which was set on fire—as well as numerous offices, businesses, and homes.

The protests erupted on September 8th following a government decision to ban 26 social media platforms, including Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp. In addition to feeling angry over the lack of access to social media, which plays an important role in the daily lives of many Nepalis, many suspected that the ban was an attempt to stifle anti-corruption sentiments that were brewing online. What began as a demonstration against the social media ban evolved over the course of several days into fierce protests against government corruption, nepotism, and inequality. The movement was labeled as a “Gen Z protest” due to the large number of young people who participated, many of whom were frustrated with the lack of economic opportunity in the country.

Nepal must now put together a cabinet, repair damaged structures, and prepare for upcoming elections. The protest leaders have also communicated several demands, including investigations into numerous corruption scandals and punishment for those involved. With the previous administration gone, young people in Nepal are looking ahead to how they can reform the entire system—rooting out corruption at the institutional level.

Nepal’s Gen Z protest must not be viewed in isolation. It is the latest movement in a series of democratic protests that have taken place around the world in the past couple of years. From Serbia, to Bangladesh, to Indonesia, and now to Nepal, young people in every corner of the globe are fiercely pushing back against their governments to demand change. Regardless of the country, the grievances are largely the same: corruption, inequality, and lack of economic opportunity. These people have shown incredible courage in their fight to change a system that, for so many, has become increasingly unsustainable.

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Glossary

• Cabinet: a group of top government officials (ministers) who lead departments and advise the prime minister.

• Chief Justice: the head judge of a country’s highest court.

• Compensation: payment or something given to make up for a loss or injury.

• Corruption: dishonest or illegal behavior by people in power, often involving bribery, favoritism, or misuse of funds.

• Democratic protests: demonstrations by people calling for fair government, accountability, and the protection of democratic rights.

• Gen Z: a generation of people born roughly between the mid-1990s and early 2010s.

• Grievances: complaints or feelings of unfair treatment, often about injustice, inequality, or wrongdoing.

• Infrastructure: basic physical structures needed for a society to function, such as roads, buildings, and utilities.

• Interim Prime Minister: a temporary head of government appointed to lead until new elections are held.

• Kathmandu: the capital city of Nepal.

• Nepotism: favoritism shown to relatives or friends, especially in politics or jobs, regardless of qualifications.

• Parliament building: the main government building in Nepal where laws are debated and passed.

• Rupee (Nepalese Rupee, NPR): Nepal’s official currency.

• Stifle: to suppress, restrain, or prevent something from happening or being expressed.

• Unsustainable: unable to continue for long because it causes too many problems or uses too many resources.