A sweeping wave of protests is shaking Nepal and has brought down the government. Deaths and injuries reported on the streets of the capital.
Nepal is in the grip of chaos. Following a day of violent unrest in the capital Kathmandu, the army has managed to regain partial control of the streets. The protests were nonetheless so widespread as to bring about the resignation of Prime Minister Khadga Prasad Sharma Oli.
At dawn on Wednesday 10 September, the city bore the unmistakable marks of the uprising. Burnt-out vehicle carcasses were scattered everywhere, smoke rose from numerous buildings, and many shops had been looted. Even the Parliament building was attacked and set on fire, as was the private residence of the outgoing head of government. Tribhuvan international airport was closed until further notice.
All of this unfolded despite a brutal crackdown by police. Protesters took to the streets to demonstrate against corruption and against the government's decision to restrict internet access (including twenty-six platforms, among them Facebook, YouTube, X and LinkedIn). Monday alone saw a dramatic toll: in Nepal's capital alone, at least nineteen people were killed, with more than 400 others injured.
"People were throwing stones when, suddenly, I was hit by a bullet. When I regained consciousness I was inside an ambulance," Ronish Regmi, a twenty-year-old student, told AFP. The same news agency reported that live rounds, not rubber bullets, had been used.
Kathmandu's authorities promised an inquiry into the police violence, as well as the restoration of access to social networks, but such announcements are unlikely to be enough to calm the situation. Conditions in Nepal remain extremely uncertain, not least given the wait for a successor to the prime ministerial post.
A key figure in any possible transition is the current mayor of Kathmandu, Balendra Shah, who addressed the public in unambiguous terms: "Be ready to take the reins of the country." For his part, the chief of army staff issued an appeal for calm and called for "dialogue to begin." Meanwhile, Nepal's president, Ramchandra Paudel, urged citizens to "cooperate towards a peaceful resolution of the situation."
The United Nations and India also joined the calls to avoid further violence. Prime Minister Narendra Modi stated that "the stability, peace and prosperity of Nepal are of paramount importance to our country."
