Nepal protests force Oli to resign, interim govt led by Sushila Karki

Youth-led street protests that began on September 8 swept through Kathmandu and other districts of Nepal, forcing the resignation of Prime Minister K.P. Sharma Oli, prompting an army-mediated transition and leaving the country with an interim government led by former chief justice Sushila Karki. The demonstrations, driven by a short-lived government ban on 26 major social media platforms and long-standing grievances over corruption, unemployment and elite privilege, turned violent and produced conflicting casualty counts as authorities and witnesses struggled to establish the scale of the bloodshed.

Government orders that Facebook, YouTube, Instagram, WhatsApp, Snapchat, Pinterest and X among others register under new rules within seven days preceded the crackdown on apps and messaging services. Officials later rescinded the ban after protests erupted, but not before footage of burning government buildings, smashed vehicles and running crowds circulated widely online. Authorities said 19 people were killed on September 8; other tallies and later reporting put the overall death toll at more than 50. Witnesses and human rights groups have accused security forces of excessive...