Nepal’s political crisis deepened on Tuesday as Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli resigned, just a day after one of the deadliest crackdowns on protesters in years left at least 19 people dead.
In a letter to the president, the 73-year-old leader said he was stepping down “to take further steps toward a political solution and resolution of the problems.” His departure follows a surge of unrest that began Monday, when demonstrators demanded the government lift a ban on social media platforms and address widespread corruption.
Although the blocked apps were restored, protests reignited across the country. Witnesses reported violent clashes, and rights groups said live ammunition was used against crowds. The bloodshed has intensified public anger in the Himalayan nation of 30 million, where frustration has been building over political instability, graft, and sluggish economic growth.
Oli, serving his fourth term after forming a coalition with the Nepali Congress last year, faced mounting criticism from a young and restless population. Nearly 43 percent of Nepalis are between 15 and 40 years old, yet unemployment remains around 10 percent, and GDP per capita stands at just $1,447.
Since becoming a federal republic in 2008 after a decade-long civil war and the abolition of the monarchy, Nepal has cycled through a series of aging prime ministers. Frequent political horse-trading has fueled perceptions that leaders are disconnected from ordinary citizens’ struggles.
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