Nepal (Brussels Morning) – 72 lives were lost and over one thousand people were injured during the recent anti-corruption protests in Nepal. In the aftermath, the prime minister was forced to resign, allowing for the election of Nepal’s first female prime minister, who was, surprisingly, appointed via Discord.
Gen Z turning Nepal into the One Piece universe
On September 4th, the Nepalese government attempted to ban 26 social media platforms across the country. Their reasoning was in part that said platforms failed to follow new local regulations on misinformation and harmful content, and in part an attempt to impose value-added tax rules on foreign e-service providers.
As a response, tens of thousands of primarily young people took to the streets of Kathmandu to protest the violation of their rights. The pirate flag from the popular Japanese anime ‘One Piece’ showcasing a skull donning a straw hat became the emblem of the uprising, symbolizing the young protesters’ will to not remain silent and fight against corruption.
According to the protesters the social media ban was the straw that broke the camel’s back, as they support that Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli’s government has long since operated on nepotism and corruption.
This final attempt on censorship on behalf of the government clearly displayed the lack of interest towards the younger generation, which relies heavily on social media as a source of income. In previous years, nepotism thrived in Nepal, and the average citizen could not hope to earn more than a few thousand euros per year. Young people faced a lack of available jobs, corruption, government failures and an inequality that could not be bridged.
Social media drastically altered this narrative, offering not only new sources of income but information on news and events across the globe that were not previously accessible.
The protests spread like wildfire, with the police employing methods like firing towards civilians and the protesters refusing to yield. Already on September 8, more than 19 people were killed and more than a hundred injured. The following day the Prime Minister was forced to step down, as his administration was held responsible both locally and internationally for one of the most brutal events in Nepalese history.
The unrest was not dulled, however, and many government buildings were burned down, including the parliament, the Supreme Court, as well as local politicians’ residences as a response to the deaths caused by the police. Amid the chaos, approximately 900 people escaped from two prisons further contributing to the turmoil.
Today, we know that 72 people lost their lives and more than a thousand were injured. Local police have publicly stated that only rubber bullets were used during the unrest, yet more and more victims’ families speak up against this claim, demanding justice for their lost loved ones.
An unorthodox election
What is unprecedented in this case, is that the new prime minister was elected through somewhat of an unorthodox method. The nation’s youth took matters into their own hands, dismissing the three parties that have been governing Nepal on rotation since monarchy was abolished in 2008.
More specifically, the youth group Hami Nepal decided to hold the elections on a Discord server, a free U.S. based platform and managed to bring together over 10,000 people in the debate for their future.
As more citizens were unable to log in, a livestream was held at the same time on YouTube and approximately 6,000 more individuals were able to watch the debate. The participants were offered the chance to nominate their interim PM through virtual polls.
To avoid chances of misinformation being spread during this effort, the leaders of the movement also created a sub-room with the sole intent to fact check and debunk any rumors that may arise during the debate. It is worth noting that Discord as well as YouTube were two of the platforms the former government wished to ban.
Greeting the promise of a new day
On Friday, September 12, the parliament was dissolved by President Ramchandra Paudel and Sushila Karki was appointed interim Prime Minister. The 73-year-old is a former Supreme Court chief justice and the first woman to lead Nepal.
“I did not wish for this job. It was after voices from the streets that I was compelled to accept,”
She said when asked about the nation’s decision, stressing that this will be a temporary solution. Karki is set to give up power within the next 6 months, after the elections on March 5, 2026, take place.
Assuming office, she promised to investigate the vandalisms that occurred during the protest and is expected to appoint ministers within the next few days. Further than that, Chief Secretary Eknarayan Aryal shared that the government will recognize those killed in the movement as martyrs and plans to offer financial support to the victims’ families. Further than that, hospitals have also been instructed to offer free medical treatment to the injured.
Meanwhile, on Saturday, the country’s 8 most prominent political parties requested for the previous parliament to be reinstated, stating that President Poudel acted unconstitutionally by dissolving the House of Representatives. Still, those parties acknowledged that the protesters’ demands should be addressed through an institution voted by the citizens.
