Nepal's prime minister resigned on Tuesday, a day after one of the deadliest crackdowns on protesters in years saw at least 19 people killed.
"I have resigned from the post of prime minister with effect from today in order to take further steps towards a political solution and resolution of the problems," KP Sharma Oli said in a letter to the president.
The protests, which began on Monday with demands that the government lifts a ban on social media and tackles corruption, reignited despite the apps going back online.
At least 19 people were killed on Monday, and Amnesty International said live ammunition had been used against protesters.
Oli, 73, began his fourth term last year after his Communist Party forged a coalition government with the centre-left Nepali Congress in the often-volatile parliament.
Dissatisfaction has grown with political instability, corruption, and slow economic development in the Himalayan nation of 30 million people.
People aged 15-40 make up nearly 43 percent of the population, according to government statistics while unemployment hovers around 10 percent and GDP per capita is just $1,447, according to the World Bank.
The country became a federal republic in 2008 after a decade-long civil war and a peace deal that saw the Maoists brought into government, and the abolishment of the monarchy.
Since then, a revolving door of ageing prime ministers and a culture of horse-trading have fuelled public perceptions that the government is out of touch.
Since Friday, videos contrasting the struggles of ordinary Nepalis with the children of politicians flaunting luxury goods and expensive vacations have gone viral on TikTok, which was not blocked.
(FILES) Nepal's newly-elected Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli looks on during the swearing-in ceremony at the President's House in Kathmandu on February 15, 2018. Nepal's prime minister KP Sharma Oli resigned on September 9, 2025, a day after one of the deadliest crackdowns on protesters in years saw at least 19 people killed. (AFP)
People displaying Nepal's national flag burn tyres during a demonstration to condemn the police's deadly crackdown on protesters in Kathmandu on September 9, 2025, (AFP)
People displaying Nepal's national flag burn Tyres during a demonstration to condemn the police's deadly crackdown on protesters in Kathmandu on September 9, 2025, (AFP)
A man draped in Nepal's national flag uses a loadspeaker as tyres are burnt during a demonstration to condemn the police's deadly crackdown on protesters in Kathmandu on September 9, 2025, (AFP)
Demonstrators react outside the Nepali Congress Party office during a protest to condemn the police's deadly crackdown on demonstrators in Kathmandu on September 9, 2025 (AFP)
Demonstrators walk past flames outside the burning Nepali Congress Party office during a protest to condemn the police's deadly crackdown on demonstrators in Kathmandu on September 9, 2025 (AFP)
Demonstrators run past flames outside the burning Nepali Congress Party office during a protest to condemn the police's deadly crackdown on demonstrators in Kathmandu on September 9, 2025 (AFP)
A demonstrator reacts outside the burning Nepali Congress Party office during a protest to condemn the police's deadly crackdown on demonstrators in Kathmandu on September 9, 2025 (AFP)
A fire burns as demonstrators gather on a road during a protest to condemn the police's deadly crackdown on demonstrators in Kathmandu on September 9, 2025 (AFP)
Soldiers armed with assault rifles walk past a road near the burning Nepali Congress Party office during a protest to condemn the police's deadly crackdown on demonstrators in Kathmandu on September 9, 2025 (AFP)
Demonstrators gather outside the burning Nepali Congress Party office during a protest to condemn the police's deadly crackdown on demonstrators in Kathmandu on September 9, 2025 (AFP)
Demonstrators react by a torn-down entrance gate to the burning Nepali Congress Party office during a protest to condemn the police's deadly crackdown on demonstrators in Kathmandu on September 9, 2025 (AFP)
Items set on fire by protesters burn during a protest to condemn the police's deadly crackdown on demonstrators in Kathmandu on September 9, 2025, a day after demonstrations over social media prohibitions and corruption by the government. Nepal rolled back its social media ban on September 9, a day after at least 19 people were killed in youth protests demanding that the government lift its restrictions and tackle corruption. Protests continued on September 9, defying a curfew to vent anger at one of the deadliest crackdowns on demonstrators for years -- despite all major social media apps resuming operations online and the government appealing for calm. (AFP)
