Nepal’s Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli has resigned following days of violent anti-corruption protests that left at least 19 people dead and more than 100 injured after police clashed with demonstrators defying an indefinite curfew.

Oli’s aide, Prakash Silwal, confirmed the resignation on Tuesday, describing it as a move that has thrown the Himalayan nation into fresh political uncertainty.

The unrest, the worst in decades, was sparked by the government’s decision last week to block access to several social media platforms, including Facebook. Officials said the shutdown targeted platforms that failed to register with authorities amid a crackdown on fake IDs, misinformation, and hate speech. However, the ban angered young people who accused the government of stifling free expression and ignoring corruption.

Protests escalated on Monday when police fired tear gas and rubber bullets at demonstrators attempting to storm parliament in Kathmandu. The violence prompted the government to lift the ban, but tensions continued to boil over.

Despite an indefinite curfew, protesters returned to the streets of the capital, setting fire to tyres, hurling stones at riot police, and torching homes of some politicians, witnesses said. Local media reported that several ministers had to be airlifted to safety by military helicopters, though Reuters could not immediately verify the claims.

Air traffic at Kathmandu’s main international airport was partially disrupted as thick smoke from burning barricades reduced visibility, according to aviation authorities.

“We are still standing here for our future. We want this country corruption-free so that everyone can easily access education, hospitals, and medical facilities, and for a bright future,” protester Robin Sreshtha told Reuters.

Oli, before resigning, had called a meeting of political parties, urging dialogue. “Violence is not in the interest of the nation,” he said, stressing the need for peaceful solutions.

However, anger on the streets showed no signs of abating. Hundreds of people from border towns near India reportedly began marching toward Kathmandu to join the protests.

Organisers described the movement as a “Gen Z uprising,” driven by frustration over corruption and limited economic opportunities. Nepal, wedged between India and China, has faced prolonged political instability and economic uncertainty since protests led to the abolition of its monarchy in 2008.