As protests intensify in Nepal, Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli has resigned, effective today, according to Nepal secretariat sources. This comes amid reports that Oli is planning to flee to Dubai after protests intensified, seeking his resignation.
Oli sent a letter to President Ramchandra Paudel, citing the country's extraordinary circumstances and need for a constitutional political resolution. “Considering the extraordinary situation prevailing in the country and in order to facilitate further efforts toward a constitutional political solution and problem resolution, I hereby resign from the office of Prime Minister, effective immediately, under Article 77(1)a of the Constitution," the statement read.
Earlier in the day, protesting youth had set on fire homes of ministers, including PM Oli’s residence in Balakot. Sensing the situation, the Nepali Army has begun evacuating ministers from their residences.
Now that Oli has resigned, Army Chief Ashok Raj Sigdel will be in control of the country. However, local media reports claim that protests continue despite Oli’s resignation.
The unrest in Nepal came after its government decided to ban social media, triggering a mass demonstration by Gen Z youth. The unrest soon turned into a protest against corruption, restrictions on freedoms, and police crackdowns. As protesters stormed the Parliament building, the police resorted to firing, killing 19 people. Following this, protests intensified. Though government-imposed curfews across Kathmandu Valley and the capital, demonstrations continued, escalating pressure on the government.
Many ministers had to resign from their posts as a protest that erupted over the ban on social media spread across the country. Home Minister Ramesh Lekhak resigned on Monday night, while Agriculture Minister Ramnath Adhikari resigned on Tuesday morning. Health Minister Pradeep Poudel quit on Tuesday.
The Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA) has also been fully closed following escalating demonstrations across the Kathmandu Valley. According to airport authorities, the closure was due to he continuous incidents of fires in areas including Gothatar and deteriorating aviation security conditions.
