Nepal’s parliament building has been set ablaze by angry Gen Z protesters amid mounting unrest over a controversial social media ban and widespread accusations of government corruption.
According to Ekram Giri, spokesman for the Parliament Secretariat, “Hundreds have breached the parliament area and torched the main building,” following hours of confrontation between demonstrators and security forces.
The violence comes just hours after Nepal’s government lifted its ban on 26 major social media and messaging platforms, including TikTok, Facebook, and WhatsApp. The restriction, introduced last week, had triggered nationwide outrage and escalated into deadly clashes that have left at least 19 people dead and more than 200 injured since Monday.
What began as protests against the online restrictions quickly evolved into a broader youth-led movement, with thousands of young Nepalese taking to the streets to denounce corruption, unemployment, and poor governance. Protesters have dubbed the uprising the “Gen Z Movement,” reflecting the demographic spearheading the demonstrations.
Meanwhile, political fallout has already begun. Several ministers have resigned in response to the unrest, deepening uncertainty within Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal’s administration.
Videos circulating online show flames and thick smoke rising from the parliament complex in Kathmandu, as security personnel struggle to restore order.
The protests mark one of the most significant challenges to Nepal’s political stability in recent years, with concerns growing over the government’s ability to contain the crisis.