Nepal’s historic Gen Z uprising successfully toppled a government but has now spawned a wave of disillusionment as the interim administration it installed fails to deliver on core promises of ending corruption and delivering justice, leaving wounded protesters like Mukesh Awasti with profound regret and a nation grappling with unresolved political turmoil ahead of uncertain March elections.
The story of Mukesh Awasti encapsulates the tragic pivot of Nepal’s Gen Z revolution. In September 2025, the 22-year-old was poised to leave for Australia to pursue a degree in civil engineering. Instead, he joined a youth revolt against corruption and lost his leg after being shot by security forces. Now lying in a hospital bed at Kathmandu’s National Trauma Center, Awasti voices a sentiment spreading through the movement: regret.
“I am regretting my decision to take part in the protest because there has been zero achievement from the new government we brought which has failed us,” Awasti told the Associated Press. “There should be end to corruption which has not happened and the people who opened fire on the demonstrations should have been arrested but that has also not happened either.”
The September Uprising: From Social Media Ban to Government Collapse
The violent protests that erupted in Kathmandu beginning September 8, 2025, represented a seismic shift in Nepalese politics. What began as outrage over a social media ban quickly evolved into a broad rebellion against what young activists described as widespread corruption, lack of opportunities, unemployment, and poor governance.
The demonstrations reached a fever pitch when tens of thousands of mostly young protesters broke through police barricades and attempted to enter parliament, resulting in security forces opening fire. The conflict left 76 people dead and more than 2,300 injured.
The following day, protests spread nationwide. Angry mobs burned down the offices of the prime minister and president, police stations, and the homes of top politicians who were forced to flee on army helicopters. The army eventually restored control, and negotiations culminated in the appointment of Sushila Karki as Nepal’s first female prime minister on September 12.
The Interim Government: Broken Promises and Growing Discontent
Prime Minister Karki, a retired Supreme Court judge, promised fresh elections in March 2026 as her key mandate. However, the interim government has faced mounting criticism from the very activists who brought it to power.
The government’s anti-graft agency has filed only one significant corruption case that excludes key political figures, according to the Associated Press. Politicians accused of corruption by protesters are preparing to contest upcoming elections, and no cases have been filed against leaders who were in power when protesters were injured in September.
“We are back here in the street because the government has failed to live up to their promise,” said Suman Bohara, who walks with crutches on a shattered right foot. “There are so many families of those who lost their lives and many who were injured but what has the government done? Nothing. We are here because we are compelled to.”
The Human Cost: Wounded Protesters and Unanswered Questions
The physical and emotional scars of the September protests remain vividly present. Dozens of demonstrators, including those injured during the uprising, have returned to the streets to protest against the government they helped create.
These recent protests outside the prime minister’s office have sometimes required police intervention, creating the ironic situation where security forces are breaking up demonstrations against a government that exists specifically because of previous protests.
The lack of accountability for the violence against protesters has become a central point of contention. With no arrests of those responsible for the September shootings, many activists feel betrayed by the system they sought to change.
The Gen Z Movement: A Leaderless Revolution’s Identity Crisis
A fundamental challenge facing Nepal’s protest movement is its lack of unified leadership and clear objectives. The Gen Z groups represent a fragmented front with conflicting demands.
- Some groups demand direct election of prime ministers
- Others call for scrapping the present constitution
- Some insist on jailing all previous politicians
- Several individuals claim to represent Nepal’s Gen Z voice without clear mandate
This lack of clarity has created significant hurdles for both the movement and the government attempting to respond to its demands.
“All the confusion right now in Nepal is because of the lack of clarity among the Gen Z groups on what they are demanding and how the government was formed,” said Abeeral Thapa, principal of Polygon College of Journalism and Mass Communications in Kathmandu.
The Constitutional Dilemma and Election Uncertainty
Nepal’s constitution presents another complication. The document contains no specific provision for forming an interim government, with only a vague statement that “the main duty of the President shall be to abide and protect the constitution.”
This constitutional ambiguity has limited the interim government’s mandate primarily to conducting parliamentary elections, leaving little room for the sweeping reforms many protesters expected.
Prime Minister Karki has emphasized her commitment to the March elections: “As the world is looking forward to a smooth change in government through our elections on March 5, I want to assure that we will deliver these elections. Our preparations are almost complete, and the security environment has improved a lot with our security apparatus is assured enough.”
However, significant divisions exist among protest groups regarding the elections. Some oppose the planned March vote, arguing their protest wasn’t intended merely to bring about parliamentary elections but to achieve immediate anti-corruption measures. Others see elections as the necessary path to installing new lawmakers who can address their demands.
Historical Context: When Revolutions Consume Their Children
The trajectory of Nepal’s Gen Z movement echoes a historical pattern where revolutionary movements struggle with the transition from protest to governance. The initial energy that topples existing power structures often dissipates when faced with the practical challenges of administration and the compromises required by political reality.
Thapa noted the ironic outcome: “The protests were not well planned to begin with; they began with controlling corruption and ending the ban on social media. But in reality what happened was like they had gone deer hunting but ended up killing a tiger, with the protest taking a major turn with the government collapsing.”
This analysis suggests the protesters achieved more than they initially sought but lack the cohesive vision to capitalize on their victory.
The Road Ahead: Nepal at a Crossroads
As Nepal approaches the promised March elections, several critical questions remain unanswered:
- Can elections proceed peacefully given the unresolved tensions?
- Will the Gen Z movement coalesce around specific political candidates or parties?
- How will the government address the legitimate grievances of wounded protesters and families of the deceased?
- What mechanisms exist for accountability regarding the September violence?
Thapa expressed doubt about the March elections but acknowledged the lack of alternatives: “It remains doubtful the promised election in March can be held, but there are no alternatives to polls.”
The fundamental challenge facing both the government and the protest movement is navigating the transition from revolutionary energy to sustainable political change—a challenge that has proven difficult for protest movements worldwide.
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