United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres has called for restraint and a thorough investigation after days of violent protests in Nepal left at least 20 people dead and forced Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli to resign.

“I’m closely following the situation in Nepal and I’m deeply saddened by the loss of life,” Guterres said Tuesday in a statement shared on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter. He urged authorities to ensure protests remain peaceful, stressing the need to respect human rights law, protect lives, and safeguard property.

The protests erupted Monday( September 8) after Oli’s government imposed a sweeping ban on social media platforms, demanding multinational tech companies open offices in Nepal. The move triggered mass demonstrations in the capital, Kathmandu, with protesters storming public buildings, torching the parliament building, and setting fire to residences of senior leaders, including the President’s Office.

Despite the government lifting the social media ban late Monday, unrest intensified, leaving nearly 350 people injured. The Nepalese army assumed control of the capital Tuesday night in an effort to restore order.

President Ramchandra Paudel accepted Oli’s resignation and is preparing to begin consultations to form a new government.

The violent protests mark one of Nepal’s most severe political crises in recent years, raising concerns of prolonged instability in the Himalayan nation.

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