Nepali soldiers patrolled the streets of Kathmandu on Wednesday after protesters set parliament ablaze and forced the prime minister to resign in the worst unrest to hit the Himalayan nation in two decades.
The demonstrations, which began on Monday against a government ban on social media and widespread corruption, spiralled into nationwide chaos after security forces cracked down, leaving at least 19 people dead.
Troops issued orders through loudspeakers as tanks rolled past burnt-out vehicles and smouldering barricades. The military warned that “vandalism, looting, arson, or attacks on individuals and property in the name of protest will be treated as punishable crimes”.
Kathmandu’s airport was set to reopen at 6 p.m. local time, according to airport manager Hansa Raj Pandey.
Smoke continued to rise from government offices, politicians’ homes, supermarkets and the headquarters of the Kantipur media group, all torched by protesters. Firefighters battled remaining blazes on Wednesday.
Former prime minister KP Sharma Oli, 73, resigned late Tuesday after mobs attacked and set fire to his home. His whereabouts remain unknown.
Army chief General Ashok Raj Sigdel appealed for calm, urging protesters to “call it off and engage in dialogue”.
The International Crisis Group described the unrest as a “major inflection point” in Nepal’s fragile democracy. UN Secretary-General António Guterres called for restraint, while India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi stressed that “the stability, peace and prosperity of Nepal are of utmost importance to us”.
Analysts warned that the country faces a dangerous political vacuum. Constitutional lawyer Dipendra Jha urged protesters, trusted leaders and the military to form a caretaker government. Crisis Group analyst Ashish Pradhan added that any transitional deal must include credible figures, particularly trusted by young Nepalis.
Young people aged 15 to 40 make up nearly 43 percent of the population, many disillusioned by corruption and unemployment. Their anger has been fuelled by viral TikTok clips contrasting their hardships with the luxury lifestyles of politicians’ children.
The protests erupted after the government banned 26 unregistered social media platforms, including Facebook, YouTube and X, although TikTok remained accessible.