No one had imagined that the government of Nepal could be toppled within just two days. But on September 8, Nepal witnessed a surreal turning point, as Gen Z–led protests against rampant government corruption and a controversial social media ban rapidly escalated into nationwide unrest and upheaval.

More than 50 young protesters were killed, hundreds injured, and a was country thrown into chaos.

What began as a peaceful demonstration quickly mushroomed when radical groups with their own political agendas infiltrated the movement. The result: more than 50 young protesters were killed, hundreds injured, and a country was thrown into chaos.

Soon, with a curfew enforced and military patrols on the streets, the once-peaceful capital became unrecognizable. Government institutions such as the Supreme Court, national banks, land registration offices, and constitutional buildings were ransacked, set ablaze, or destroyed. Government ministers fled their homes as angry protesters burned down their residences. Even prisons were stormed, leading to mass jailbreaks and widespread fear.

Nepal’s political history has long been marred by instability. From the autocratic Rana regime before 1951 to the transition into parliamentary democracy, then the Panchayat system under King Mahendra in 1961, followed by the People's Movement of 1990, each era has brought its own upheavals. The decade-long Maoist insurgency (1996–2006) claimed over 17,000 lives and ultimately led to the abolition of the monarchy in 2008. Nepal became a federal democratic republic, yet the promise of stability remained unfulfilled.

Coalition collapses, constitutional disputes, and systemic corruption have eroded public trust.

Since then, Nepal has seen 14 different governments—none of them completing a full five-year term. Coalition collapses, constitutional disputes, and systemic corruption have eroded public trust.

The Gen Z–led protest was not born overnight. It was the result of years of growing frustration over bad governance, youth unemployment, nepotism, and mass labor migration. When the government banned social media to suppress the voice of Gen Z, it ensured its own downfall.

“Gen Z”—rose up like a flood, leaving the nation stunned.

For Gen Z, the internet wasn’t just a platform; it was a part of their identity. Born into a globally connected world, they are more informed, vocal, and mobilized than any generation before them. When their digital voice was silenced, they took to the streets. Nepalis—many of whom were unfamiliar with the very term “Gen Z”—rose up like a flood, leaving the nation stunned, as if waking from a dream.

This uprising echoes similar recent events in nearby countries. In Sri Lanka in 2022, mass protests over economic collapse led to the storming of government buildings and the president fled the country. In Bangladesh last year, student-led protests against government abuses caused Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to flee to India. These regional precedents undoubtedly inspired the revolutionary sentiment among Nepal’s youth.

For years, Nepalis have watched ministers campaign door-to-door during elections, only to become unresponsive once in power. Meanwhile, many of the nation’s youth have felt compelled to seek work abroad, particularly in the Gulf states and often in dangerous and exploitative conditions.

15,000 Nepalis enlisted for Russia’s war in Ukraine.

In 2024, Nepal’s youth unemployment rate stood at 20.82%. Job creation remains stagnant, pushing thousands to migrate. The crisis became so desperate that as many as 15,000 Nepalis enlisted for Russia’s war in Ukraine. CNN reported that many were sent to the front lines with minimal training. Some never returned; others came back physically or emotionally shattered.

Throughout this crisis, the Nepali government displayed sheer apathy. The tragic deaths of these young men were mourned daily while the state continued to benefit from the remittances their labor produced. Adding insult to injury, the lavish lifestyles of political elites and their children, often flaunted on social media, underscored the widening gap between rich and poor. A protest sign on September 8 captured the mood: “Politicians’ children bring Gucci bags; our children return in coffins.”

Amidst the ongoing turmoil, both pro-monarchy and Hindu nationalist groups are pushing for their respective preferred forms of government. Meanwhile, following the apparent success of the Gen Z movement, protesters are demanding a new constitution and fresh elections. In contrast, civil society is urging solutions within the existing constitution. After a week of unrest, President Ram Chandra Poudel appointed former Chief Justice Sushila Karki, favored for her integrity and anti-corruption stance, as caretaker Prime Minister.

The Church responds with a call to prayer and action

The United National Nepali Church Council has issued a statement.

In response to the national crisis, churches across the country have mobilized in prayer, earnestly seeking divine intervention and lasting peace. The United National Nepali Church Council has issued a statement urging all Christians to remain “cautious, alert, sensitive, and restrained” during this sensitive time. “At present, the condition of the nation is like that of Jerusalem when the city and its walls were broken down,” the council said. “In this dire situation, let us all offer condolences for the youths who became martyrs during the Gen Z and people’s movement, and pray for their bereaved families.”

If the country doesn’t survive, how can we?

Nepali pastors have expressed deep concern over the situation and affirmed their commitment to focused, fervent prayer. Pastor Phur Jangbu of Boudha Dunamis Church stated, “We have started special prayers in all our churches since the second day of the protests. We usually pray generally for the nation, but now it’s time to pray specifically for good governance. If the country doesn’t survive, how can we?”

Pastor Phurpu Bhote of Himali Fellowship reflected, “This crisis reveals the lack of consistent prayer from the church. Now more than ever, we must be on our knees, interceding for our nation. And at the same time, we must not hesitate to preach the gospel—in and out of season.”

Prakash Karki, a key figure in the process that has enabled churches to register legally as public religious trusts, offered a different perspective. Karki emphasized the quiet but significant progress being made within Nepal’s Christian community—particularly in securing legal recognition and permanence for churches. He urged a continued focus on ensuring that faith communities can operate transparently, responsibly, and with long-term stability, regardless of who holds political power.

More than 30 Christian organizations and denominations, with thousands of individual congregations, have registered as public religious trusts.

Noting that more than 30 Christian organizations and denominations, with thousands of individual congregations, have registered as public religious trusts, Karki stated, “This is the greatest way God has opened for us. It allows us to operate freely, pay taxes, and gain legal rights.”

Karki also called on the Christian community to expand its involvement in healthcare and education, especially in remote areas where even basic medicine is scarce, embodying both compassion and gospel mission.

Despite fierce accusations of proselytizing by members of the country’s Hindu majority, the Christian community in Nepal has been among the fastest-growing in the world, with churches now present in nearly every district.

Nepal stands at a historic crossroads.

Nepal stands at a historic crossroads. What began as a youth-led call for justice and transparency has become a nationwide reckoning. The world watches as a new generation dares to chart an uncertain, yet hopeful path forward.

This is an opportunity for the church, especially its younger members, to respond to God’s calling and reach out to their peers beyond the church walls—young people burdened with broken dreams in a trembling nation. We urge the global body of Christ to pray fervently for Nepal.

Surendra Bajracharya is a freelance writer and translator of Christian materials based in Kathmandu, Nepal. He has previously worked with Tiny Hands Nepal, a non-profit organization focused on combating human trafficking—an issue he considers one of the gravest evils facing Nepal today. Surendra carries a deep burden to see the body of Christ become salt and light by engaging both spiritually and socially in the nation's transformation.