Major social media sites back online in Nepal after deadly protests
Kathmandu (AFP) – Nepal rolled back its social media ban on Tuesday, a day after at least 19 people were killed in protests demanding the government lift its restrictions and tackle corruption.
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All major social media apps were working, an AFP reporter in Kathmandu said.
Nepal's Minister for Communication Prithvi Subba Gurung was quoted by local media as saying that the government has withdrawn its ban following an emergency cabinet meeting.
Several social media sites -- including Facebook, YouTube and X -- were blocked on Friday in the Himalayan nation of 30 million people, after the government blocked 26 unregistered platforms.
The ban sparked widespread fury, especially among the younger generation who rely heavily on the apps for communication.
It also fed into anger at the government in a country where unemployment hovers around 10 percent and GDP per capita at just $1,447, according to the World Bank.
Crowds held protests on Monday in the capital, and other cities.
Police in Kathmandu used rubber bullets, tear gas, water cannon and batons when the demonstrators pushed through barbed wire and tried to storm into a restricted area near parliament.
Amnesty International said live ammunition had been used against protesters.
Police said 17 people died in the capital and two more in Sunsari district in eastern Nepal, according to local media.
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.
Popular platforms such as Instagram have millions of users in Nepal who rely on them for entertainment, news and business.
© 2025 AFP
Nepal’s market weakens as violence grips country
Nepal’s equity market slumped on September 8, 2025, as the NEPSE index fell 35.99 points, or 1.32%, to close at 2,672.25, extending losses from the previous week’s 30.05 point decline, according to a report by state owned The Rising Nepal.
The sell off unfolded against the backdrop of violent Gen-Z protests triggered by a government ban on popular social media platforms. Demonstrations escalated on September 8, with police firing into crowds in Kathmandu. At least 20 protesters were killed and hundreds injured, deepening political uncertainty and rattling investor sentiment.
The sensitive index, which tracks group A firms, also slipped 2.32 to 467.51. Sectoral performance was broadly negative, with the life insurance sub-index plunging 51.64 points. Hotels and tourism fell 33.11 points, hydropower 23.45, non-life insurance 22.86, trading 9.89, microfinance 9.43, banking 9.34, the category labelled others 8.71, development banks 4.90 and investment 0.08.
Manufacturing and processing gained 3.27 points, finance rose 2.39 and mutual funds edged 0.08 higher. Turnover reached NPR5.23bn ($62.7mn) through 59,704 trades involving 11,714,543 shares, compared with NPR4.40bn and 11,124,845 shares in the prior session. Of the companies traded, 229 declined while 22 advanced. Among notable movers, Panchakanya Mai Hydropower dropped 4.62%, Bikash Hydropower slid 3.92% and ICFC Finance Debenture 2083 lost 3.88%.
On the upside, Him Star Urja surged 9.99%, NIBL Samriddhi Fund-2 rose 5.83% and Universal Power climbed 5.12%. Other risers included NCC Debenture 2086 up 4.35%, Union Hydropower up 3.08% and Garima Debenture 2085 advancing 2.92%.
Nepal’s capital Kathmandu witnessed deadly clashes on September 8, 2025, as police fired on demonstrators from the Gen-Z movement, leaving 14 people dead and more than 200 injured. The protests, centred around Baneshwar, escalated after authorities used water cannons, tear gas and live ammunition to disperse crowds rallying against corruption and restrictions on social media, Kantipur reported.
Hospitals across the city have reportedly been overwhelmed with hundreds of gravely wounded with several in critical condition and likely to expire in the coming hours according to testimony of hospital staff cited by local Nepali media.
The demonstrations, spearheaded largely by young Nepalis - popularly dubbed “Gen-Z protest” by both vernacular language and English media in Nepal, erupted over widespread frustration with government corruption and a nationwide clampdown on online platforms.
Authorities have yet to release an official statement on the fatalities. However, the growing casualties and heavy-handed police response are expected to intensify public anger.
While Nepal has been rocked by violence related to the restoration of monarchy in the country as well as political disputes between nationally and regionally relevant groups and parties, protests related to internet freedom are a new phenomenon for the small Himalyan country.
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