Overview

• Youth-led protests on September 8–9 escalated into arson that gutted Singha Durbar, the Supreme Court and parliament, with reported deaths in the dozens and figures clustered around 72–74.
• Prime Minister K.P. Sharma Oli resigned, and retired chief justice Sushila Karki was appointed to head an interim cabinet after parliament was dissolved and national elections were scheduled for March 5, 2026.
• Authorities announced a judicial commission to investigate the deaths, arson and alleged excessive force, alongside pledges of compensation for affected families.
• The unrest was triggered by a blanket block on major social platforms and fueled by anger over corruption and nepotism, with Gen Z organizers relying on Discord and encrypted channels.
• Protest ranks were heterogeneous, with reports of royalist and criminal elements exploiting the turmoil, and analysts warn entrenched corruption and political constraints will test promised reforms.