Nepali Prime Minister K.P. Oli resigned on Tuesday, September 9, amid intensifying protests across the country, his secretariat confirmed.

In a letter addressed to Nepal’s President Ramchandra Paudel, Oli cited the “extraordinary situation prevailing in the country” and expressed his desire to enable “further efforts toward a constitutional political solution and problem resolution.”

He wrote, “Considering the extraordinary situation prevailing in the country and in order to facilitate further efforts toward a constitutional political solution and problem resolution, I hereby resign from the office of Prime Minister, effective immediately, under Article 77(1)a of the Constitution,” according to The Himalayan.

The unrest escalated as protesters breached the parliament walls for the second consecutive day and stormed the Federal Parliament building. Earlier, Oli had called for an all-party meeting on Tuesday evening as the protests intensified.

“I am saddened by Monday’s protests in the capital and across the country and the subsequent incidents,” The Kathmandu Post quoted Oli as saying.

“No form of violence serves the nation’s interest, and we must pursue a peaceful and dialogue-based solution.”

The Prime Minister added that he was in discussions with all relevant parties to resolve the crisis.

Tensions in Nepal took a sharp turn as demonstrators defied the curfew imposed on Monday afternoon and set fire to the residences and offices of key political leaders, including Oli’s private home in Balkot, Bhaktapur.

Other targets included the homes of President Poudel, former Home Minister Ramesh Lekhak, Nepali Congress leader Sher Bahadur Deuba, and leader of the Communist Party of Nepal Maoist Pushpa Kamal Dahal. A school owned by Nepali Foreign Minister Arzu Deuba Rana was also torched, according to AP reports.

The Kathmandu Post reported that the Nepal Army began evacuating ministers from their residences using helicopters due to reports of arson and vandalism. Hours after Oli’s resignation, protestors set fire to the Supreme Court and the President’s Office at Sheetal Niwas in Kathmandu.

In response, the Nepali Army issued a statement urging citizens to maintain social harmony and national unity.

“For the protection of Nepal’s sovereignty, national integrity, geographical indivisibility, independence, national unity, and the lives and property of the Nepali people, the Nepali Army has always remained committed to national security responsibilities. The Nepali Army is closely monitoring the ongoing internal developments and incidents in Nepal. In the course of this movement, the loss of precious lives and property of citizens is extremely tragic and saddening. The Nepali Army extends heartfelt condolences and solidarity to the grieving families of those who lost their lives, while also wishing for the speedy recovery of the injured. Dedicated to the interest and security of Nepal and its citizens, the Nepali Army is always alert and committed to fulfilling its constitutional responsibility to protect the country’s sovereignty, independence, and territorial integrity. At this sensitive time, the Nepali Army earnestly appeals to all citizens, especially the youth community, to contribute to the preservation of social harmony and national unity, and to maintain restraint,” the statement read.

Earlier, a joint appeal from key officials, including Ashok Raj Sigdel, Chief of Army Staff, Nepali Army, called on young protesters to exercise restraint.

“With the resignation of the Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli now accepted, we sincerely urge all citizens to remain calm and avoid further damage to life and property,” the appeal stated. 

“We also call on all concerned parties to seek a swift and peaceful resolution through political dialogue.”

Kathmandu Metropolitan City Mayor Balendra Shah, regarded as a popular figure among young Nepalis, reinforced the message, stating, “Dear Gen Z, your demand for the resignation of the government has been met. Now it is time to remain restrained.”

The unrest followed Nepal police opening fire on demonstrators on Monday, resulting in the deaths of 19 people and injuries to more than 400.

The mass protests were initially triggered by a social media ban on platforms such as Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube, imposed in compliance with a Supreme Court order issued last week.

The government had directed major social media firms to register with the communications and information technology ministry under a 2023 directive. While TikTok, Telegram, and Viber complied, global giants like Meta, Alphabet, X, Reddit, and LinkedIn did not. Though the ban was later lifted, protests persisted in Kathmandu Valley, with demonstrators chanting slogans against corruption and setting tyres ablaze in New Baneshwar, Kalanki, and Chapagaun. Several arrests occurred near the Federal Parliament building.

In a disturbing development, a commercial building in Kathmandu housing several offices, including Kantipur Publications – publisher of Kantipur and The Kathmandu Post – was set ablaze.

The Kathmandu Post in a post on X stated, “ Kantipur’s building was attacked today and set on fire. As a result, our servers are down, so we are posting all our reporting and updates on our social media platforms. Thanks for supporting our work.”

The international community, including India, the UK, the US, and others, urged restraint. India stated it was “deeply saddened by the loss of many young lives” and called for resolving the crisis through “peaceful means and dialogue.”

India expressed condolences to the bereaved families and wished for the speedy recovery of the injured, adding, “As a close friend and neighbour, we hope that all concerned will exercise restraint and address any issues through peaceful means and dialogue.”

A joint statement from the embassies of Australia, Finland, France, Japan, the Republic of Korea, the UK, and the USA in Nepal condemned the violence and loss of life.

“We are deeply saddened by the violence seen in Kathmandu and elsewhere in Nepal today, including the tragic loss of life and injury during demonstrations. We extend our sincere condolences to the families of the victims, all those affected, and wish those injured a swift and full recovery. Our governments reaffirm our strong support for the universal rights of peaceful assembly and freedom of expression. We urge all parties to exercise maximum restraint, avoid further escalation, and ensure that these fundamental rights are protected.”

International and national rights organizations, including the UN’s human rights office and Nepal’s National Human Rights Commission, also condemned the killings and called for prompt investigations, urging the government to respect freedom of assembly and expression.

Meanwhile, India’s Ministry of External Affairs issued an advisory urging Indian nationals to defer travel to Nepal and asking those already in the country to shelter in place and avoid venturing outside until the situation stabilizes.

“In view of the developing situation in Nepal, Indian citizens are advised to defer travel there until the situation has stabilised. Indian citizens presently in Nepal are advised to shelter in their current places of residence, avoid going out onto the streets and exercise all due caution. They are also advised to follow local safety advisories from Nepal authorities as well as the Embassy of India in Kathmandu,” the statement read.