Important points
We highlight that in response to Nepal’s economic crisis and recovery struggles due to the pandemic, the Gen Z protests took place from September 8 to 9, 2025, leading to widespread insecurity and harm. It described the Nepali military’s role in protecting government leaders and peacefully restoring order, boosting public confidence in comparison to security forces in neighboring countries. Describes the Army’s intelligence network involving civilians and officials, noting that the government failed to fully anticipate the protests and the ensuing discussion of political responsibility.
Nestled in the heart of the Himalayas, Nepal stands at a political crossroads, its recent history marked by upheaval, resilience and the promise of impending elections that could reshape its future. The Gen Z protests on September 8 and 9, 2025 left an indelible mark on the national psyche, reflecting a wave of social unrest that has swept through South Asia in recent years. As the situation settles, the international community is keeping an eye on Nepal’s next general election, scheduled for March 5, 2026, to determine whether the country can peacefully transition to a new era of governance.
Gen Z protests were not unusual in the region. Similar violence has already rocked neighboring countries, with President Ashraf Ghani fleeing Afghanistan in 2021, President Gotabaya Rajapaksa expelled from Sri Lanka in 2022, and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina leaving Bangladesh in 2024 after large-scale public demonstrations, according to the Kathmandu Post. What do we have in common? The government failed to address the post-pandemic challenges, leaving the population in economic hardship and social disillusionment.
Nepal’s turn came after it struggled to recover from the pandemic. The state’s inability to take effective measures to alleviate unemployment and disruption to livelihoods has led to public anger. Despite reassurances from political leaders that Nepal was doing better than its neighbors, the people were not convinced. The result was a dramatic outpouring of discontent, culminating in Gen Z protests that saw executive, legislative, and judicial authorities targeted by arson and vandalism. “Whatever the narrative is set by the political class, civilians form their opinions based on their own experiences,” foreign affairs expert Nishchar Nath Pandey told the Kathmandu Post. “They did not address the public’s message, which was extremely important at the time. The result was the ‘lightning strikes’ of September 8 and 9.”
But unlike neighboring countries, Nepal’s leaders did not flee. Nepal’s military played a vital role in this outcome, protecting the head of state and government without resorting to lethal force. International observers were reportedly impressed by the army’s ability to quickly and peacefully restore order. This increased public confidence in the military and distinguished it from other regional security forces that failed to prevent regime collapse.
In a press conference on October 19, 2025, Major General Anup John Thapa emphasized the Army’s apolitical stance. “The Army is not involved in politics. It is clear from our dialogue with Generation Z that the Army is not involved in politics. At critical times, the Army only objectively assesses the security situation and takes the necessary efforts to maintain peace and order,” he said, as reported by Republica newspaper. Thapa also acknowledged that although the Army has been monitoring the situation and submitting regular intelligence reports every 15 days since mid-April 2025 on the fragile security environment in the country, including the rise in cyber-attacks, it cannot always predict the exact nature or intensity of the protests. Questions remain as to whether these reports were properly communicated to then-Prime Minister Sharma Oli or whether he acted on them, with some sources suggesting the warnings may have been ignored.
The army’s intelligence gathering turned out to be a networked operation involving journalists, teachers, local representatives, and civilians who maintain good relations with security agencies. These grassroots sources help compile reports submitted to the Office of the Prime Minister and Council of Ministers (OPMCM). Despite this robust system, the sudden outbreak of Gen Z protests caught many government officials off guard, a fact that further fueled the debate about accountability at the highest levels.
Former Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli, who resigned in the wake of the protests, has not remained silent. Oli, speaking publicly to the media for the first time since his ouster, accused the caretaker government of targeting him for arrest “without sufficient basis,” India Today and PTI reported. “The government seems more focused on personal vendettas than governance,” Oli argued, accusing the regime of abusing its power to suppress political opponents rather than restoring democratic order. He also criticized the withdrawal of security personnel, saying there was a continuing threat to his security, and described a dramatic evacuation by the military from the official residence, which had come under attack by demonstrators.
Oli’s criticism did not end there. He labeled the caretaker government led by former chief justice Sushila Karki since September 12 as “unconstitutional” and accused it of being formed in “clear violation of democratic principles”. He also targeted the Gen Z movement itself, claiming it was influenced by “external forces” and that the arson and vandalism was instigated by outsiders. “I could not accept the so-called Nepo Baby campaign, launched by Generation Z youth, which spread fear among the Nepali people,” he said, referring to youth-led efforts targeting corruption and perceived privilege among the offspring of political elites. While expressing support for anti-corruption efforts, Oli condemned the destructive tactics that led to the burning of government buildings, including the prime minister’s residence, parliament and the Supreme Court.
Despite the turmoil, Oli said he intends to remain politically active and suggested he could be revived if voters support him. “The country and the party still need me, and I have the ability to contribute to the country and society,” he declared, distancing himself from other leaders who resigned in the face of political turmoil.
Meanwhile, the caretaker government faces unique challenges. The country has yet to appoint a foreign minister, a fact that has drawn scrutiny but is not unprecedented, according to diplomatic expert Pandey. Citing historical examples from both Nepal and India, he explained, “The country can function without such appointments because the prime minister can hold portfolios.” The interim government has also recalled several ambassadors, a move aimed at preventing the politicization of diplomatic appointments, although replacements are unlikely until after elections in March.
The international community is watching closely as Nepal prepares for a crucial vote. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has praised the resilience of Nepal’s people, and His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s unprecedented congratulations to Nepal’s prime minister highlight the growing global concern. The stakes are high. The primary mission of the transitional government is to ensure free and fair elections, a smooth transition of power, and the restoration of public trust. This includes the arrest of thousands of criminals who fled during the riots and the recovery of stolen weapons, measures essential to social harmony and the legitimacy of elections.
With the scars of September still fresh and the eyes of the world on Kathmandu, Nepal’s path forward will require skillful political management, inclusive dialogue across all sectors, and a renewed commitment to democratic principles. How the country navigates the coming months will not only shape its own destiny but also serve as a usher in stability in a region no stranger to political storms.
