“Gen Z” protesters during a march in Nepal. (Photo: X)
New Delhi: Nepal is facing its gravest political crisis in decades as youth-led protesters engaged in extraordinary negotiations with the country’s army and president to form an interim government, on Thursday. This development follows two days after the resignation of the prime minister, Khadga Prasad Sharma Oli, after deadly nationwide unrest, as India Sentinels had reported.
The unprecedented talks at Nepali Army headquarters in Bhadrakali on September 11 brought together representatives of the Gen Z uprising, the president, Ram Chandra Paudel, and the army chief, General Ashok Raj Sigdel, to determine Nepal’s political future after violent protests killed 31 people and injured over 633 others.
What began as demonstrations against a social media ban has transformed into Nepal’s most significant political upheaval since the end of the Maoist insurgency, with protesters successfully forcing the resignation of Oli’s government and now directly participating in selecting national leadership.
Military extends control
The Nepali Army announced extended restrictive measures on Thursday, with prohibitory orders from 11am to 5pm on September 12, followed by a curfew from 7pm until 6am on September 13. The military cited ongoing security challenges after mass prison breaks saw more than 13,500 inmates escape nationwide.
Between 10am on Tuesday and 10pm on Wednesday, military forces detained 27 individuals for looting, arson, and “destructive and anarchic activities” while seizing 31 firearms. Videos emerged showing protesters had captured significant military equipment, including armour vests, rifles, and grenade launchers, representing an unprecedented breach of state security.
In Dhading district, soldiers shot dead two inmates and injured seven others during escape attempts, while military intervention thwarted a separate jailbreak at Kathmandu’s main prison. The army managed to arrest 303 escaped prisoners and recovered 73 rifles taken during the chaos.
The Tribhuvan International Airport, closed for over 24 hours, reopened on September 10 under strict military security protocols as forces restored limited order in the capital.
Divisions emerge in protest leadership pick
The youth movement is facing internal splits over interim leadership after initially selecting former chief justice Sushila Karki through online voting on Wednesday evening. A faction now proposes Kulman Ghising, the former Nepal Electricity Authority chief, citing his administrative experience.
These divisions became visible outside army headquarters on Thursday, where “supporters of the Gen Z protest clashed among themselves, leading to a chaotic brawl,” according to several reports from Kathmandu. The splits highlight the movement’s lack of centralized structure, which enabled diverse participation but complicates governance transitions.
Other candidates considered included Balendra Shah, Kathmandu’s mayor, who reportedly did not answer calls from protesters, effectively removing himself from consideration.
Paudel, largely absent since protesters attacked his office and residence on Tuesday, issued his first major statement emphasizing constitutional solutions. “I am making every effort to find a way out of the current difficult situation in the country within the constitutional framework and to protect democracy,” he said.
Region watches crisis unfold
India’s response reflects complex diplomatic calculations, with the prime minister, Narendra Modi, chairing a Cabinet Committee on Security meeting and describing the violence as “heart-rending”. Modi emphasized that “the stability, peace and prosperity of Nepal are of utmost importance to us.”
The Sashastra Seema Bal, which guards the India-Nepal border, arrested 60 prisoners who fled Nepali jails and attempted to cross into India, while New Delhi issued travel advisories for Indian nationals. The timing proves particularly significant as Oli had recently returned from China and was scheduled to visit India later this month.
China expressed hopes that “all parties in Nepal would work to resolve their issues and restore order,” with the country’s foreign ministry spokesman, Lin Jian, noting Beijing’s reminder to Chinese nationals in Nepal to “pay attention to their safety”. This reflects Chinese concerns about the substantial Belt and Road Initiative investments Beijing made in the Himalayan nation.
Third South Asian youth uprising in three years
The Nepal crisis represents the third major youth-driven political upheaval in South Asia since Sri Lanka’s economic collapse in 2022 and Bangladesh’s student-led uprising in 2024. Regional analysts note striking similarities: youth leadership, social media organization, anti-corruption demands, and rapid escalation from specific grievances to broader regime change.
This pattern raises concerns about regional stability and the effectiveness of traditional governance models across South Asia, where digital connectivity has accelerated political mobilization among younger demographics.
Constitutional questions over transition
The crisis raises fundamental questions about Nepal’s constitutional framework, as the 2015 constitution provides no explicit mechanisms for the type of transition being negotiated. Legal experts note the tension between popular demands for change and constitutional continuity.
The army’s role as mediator, while pragmatically necessary, raises concerns about civilian control and precedents for future political crises. An army spokesman confirmed ongoing discussions but remained cautious, stating: “We are holding rounds of talks with different stakeholders focused on finding a way out from the current stalemate while maintaining law and order.”
Gen Z negotiators have outlined specific demands, including a directly elected executive system, asset investigations of officials who held public office since 1989, judicial corruption probes, and preventing MPs from becoming ministers.
Economic and humanitarian toll mounts
The death toll of 31 with over 1,000 injured represents Nepal’s deadliest civil unrest since the Maoist insurgency ended. Extended curfews and infrastructure damage have created significant economic losses, with the crucial tourism industry facing severe impacts from hotel destruction and airport closures.
Educational institutions remain closed while commercial activity has ground to a halt across major urban centres. The humanitarian crisis extends beyond immediate casualties to encompass disrupted supply chains and suspended public services.
The interim government structure, if agreed upon, would represent an unprecedented experiment in Nepali governance, with youth protesters directly involved in selecting national leadership alongside constitutional authorities and the military.
As negotiations continue, Nepal remains in political limbo with no functioning government, while the success or failure of this youth-led transition may influence similar movements across South Asia and establish new precedents for democratic participation in the digital age.
