Horn of Africa Geopolitical Review (HAGR)
Strategic Insight & Political Analysis
Nepal’s Gen Z Protests and the Lessons for Tigray:
Digital Resistance, Corruption, and the Struggle Against Political Dynasties
I. Introduction: Why Nepal Matters to Tigray’s Youth
The eruption of mass protests in Nepal, driven largely by Generation Z, has unsettled South Asia’s fragile political order and delivered a powerful global lesson: youth-led, digitally coordinated movements now stand as the most effective force against corruption, authoritarianism, and entrenched political dynasties.
For Tigray, still suffocated by the corrosive legacy of the outlawed TPLF “Above-the-Core” faction, Nepal’s story is not a distant regional event. It is a mirror—reflecting the costs of corruption, nepotism, and political betrayal. Nepal’s uprising against state censorship and elite-driven plunder provides both a warning and an inspiration for Tigray’s younger generations, who face even greater injustices: the systematic looting of gold and natural resources, the rise of family-based power networks, and the persistence of warlordism that undermines peace, governance, and national security.
Nepal’s Gen Z have shown that social media is not a pastime but a central utility of modern political life—a weapon of resistance and a driver of social change. Tigray’s youth must recognize that they, too, stand at the threshold of a digital revolution capable of dismantling authoritarian networks and securing a democratic future.
II. The Trigger in Nepal: Social Media Ban and Deep-Rooted Grievances
The immediate spark for Nepal’s protests was the government’s sudden nationwide ban on unregistered social media platforms—including Facebook, Instagram, X (Twitter), and YouTube—enforced on September 4. This decision struck directly at the heart of Gen Z life, silencing not only entertainment but also the principal space for news, political organization, and free expression.
Yet the ban was merely the trigger. Deeper grievances had long been building:
- Corruption and Nepotism – From the Airbus procurement scandal to countless unresolved cases, elites consistently enriched themselves while citizens bore the cost.
- Economic Inequality – A development model reliant on remittances, combined with spiraling youth unemployment, deepened frustration and despair.
- Political Dynasties – Elite families monopolized political life, fueling resentment among a new generation demanding transparency, meritocracy, and reform.
The ban transformed frustration into organized resistance. Protesters stormed parliament, clashed violently with security forces, and set the homes and offices of political elites ablaze. The unrest escalated to such a scale that Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli was forced to resign, and the government lifted the social media ban.
III. Nepal’s Gen Z: Social Media as Central Utility
The clearest lesson from Nepal is the recognition of social media not as leisure, but as infrastructure—essential for political, economic, and social life. For Nepal’s youth, social media:
Drives political awareness and civic education.
Enables rapid mobilization through decentralized, leaderless movements.
Weakens state censorship and authoritarian controls.
Amplifies the voices of the marginalized and excluded.
Platforms such as Facebook and TikTok became accelerators of discontent, empowering young Nepalis to bypass compromised state media and directly challenge entrenched elites.
IV. The Tigray Parallels: The TPLF “Above-the-Core” and the Gold Curse
Nepal’s struggles resonate powerfully with Tigray’s current reality. The outlawed TPLF “Above-the-Core” faction has entrenched itself as a criminal-political dynasty, weaponizing the economy, manipulating the military, and strangling Tigray’s recovery.
Key parallels include:
Corruption and Nepotism – Like Nepal’s ruling elites, the “Above-the-Core” warlords have constructed vast patronage networks, appointing relatives and loyalists while excluding competent leaders.
Illegal Gold Mining – Far exceeding Nepal’s scandals, TPLF elites are implicated in systematic plunder of Tigray’s mineral wealth. This theft not only robs the population of its future but finances militias and destabilizes the Interim Government.
Political Dynasties – As in Nepal, powerful families from ex-TPLF leaders dominate politics, blocking reform and perpetuating authoritarian control.
Suppression and Assassination – Where Nepal relied on bans and riot police, TPLF warlords employ assassinations, kidnappings, secret prisons, and Eritrean-backed militias to silence reformists and young activists.
For Tigray, the grievances run even deeper: survivors of genocide betrayed once again by corrupt elites. The conditions for a youth-led revolt are not only present but more urgent than in Nepal.
V. Lessons from Nepal: What Tigray’s Youth Must Learn
- Digital Resistance is Essential
Nepal demonstrates that social media is survival, not leisure. For Tigray’s youth, digital platforms must be harnessed to:
Document corruption, nepotism, and political violence.
Expose illegal gold mining, land grabbing in Mekelle -70 Enderta, kidnappings, killings, and sexual violence against women.
Reveal unholy alliances between TPLF warlords and the genocidal Eritrean regime.
Mobilize civic movements for reform.
Connect with international allies beyond censored state channels.
- Leaderless but Coordinated Movements Work
Nepal’s Gen Z protests were decentralized, organized outside traditional political structures. Tigray’s youth should adopt similar models that are resilient against co-optation or targeted assassinations.
- Corruption and Nepotism are the Core Enemy
The greatest threat to Tigray’s survival is not only external aggression but the internal rot of corrupt leadership. Nepal’s youth proved that persistent, organized civic action can topple entrenched elites.
- Censorship Always Backfires
Attempts to silence digital voices accelerate political collapse. As Nepal showed, censorship exposes the fragility of authoritarian rule. For Tigray, any attempt by the “Above-the-Core” warlords to suppress youth voices will only hasten their downfall.
VI. What the Authoritarians of TPLF May Learn from Nepal
If the “Above-the-Core” warlords are observant, Nepal offers sobering lessons:
Bans and censorship backfire, strengthening resistance.
Violence against youth accelerates regime collapse.
Political dynasties cannot survive in the digital age of accountability.
Once the youth unite, resignation and removal of elites become inevitable.
Unlike Nepal, where unrest forced the resignation of a Prime Minister, Tigray’s stakes are existential: survival after genocide, rebuilding a nation, and dismantling one of Africa’s most corrupt political networks.
VII. Conclusion: A Call to Tigray’s Youth
The Nepal Gen Z uprising is not an isolated event; it is a global signal. For Tigray, the message is urgent and clear:
Young Tigrayans carry more grievances and deeper legitimacy than their Nepalese counterparts.
Digital media is their most powerful weapon against tyranny.
Corruption, nepotism, and resource plunder are not political inconveniences—they are existential threats.
The outlawed TPLF “Above-the-Core” cannot be reformed. It must be exposed, discredited, and dismantled through a digitally empowered, youth-led civic revolution.
Just as Nepal’s youth forced the resignation of a Prime Minister, Tigray’s youth must rise to remove the warlords who betray their people for gold, power, and dynasty.
@ Prepared for publication by Horn of Africa Geopolitical Review (HAGR) under Horn News Hub
