From Kathmandu to Kinshasa, Paris to Jakarta, 2025 has been a year of disruption. Around the globe, protests have erupted over corruption, inequality, and economic hardship. Many have turned violent, forcing governments to deploy troops, declare curfews, or even resign. If you’re trying to make sense of the headlines, here’s a guide to where unrest is flaring — and why.
Nepal: Gen Z on the Streets — From Social Media Ban to Mass Resignation
Nepal has seen its most serious political crisis since the 2006 revolution. The current wave of unrest began on 8 September 2025, after the government suddenly banned all social media, including Whatsapp. The ban was widely seen as a crackdown on dissent and became a rallying cry for the country’s youth (Gen Z), already angry at a political system they view as dominated by “nepo babies” — relatives of party elites with privileged access to power.
Within days, protests spread across the country. Crowds stormed and burned major sites, including the Parliament building, parts of the Supreme Court, and the Prime Minister’s residence. The Hilton Hotel Kathmandu — a symbol of wealth and the tallest building in Nepal — was set on fire, forcing emergency evacuations of trapped guests.
Security forces responded with live ammunition, tear gas, and mass arrests. At least 30 people have been killed and more than 1,000 injured. The army now patrols Kathmandu under a nationwide curfew. Facing overwhelming pressure, Prime Minister K.P. Sharma Oli resigned on 10 September. Protest leaders are now demanding an interim government led by former chief justice Kalyan Shrestha, signalling that the crisis is far from over.
France: “Block Everything”
In France, the latest demonstrations have been branded “Block Everything” — and that’s exactly what protesters have attempted to do. The movement began in early September 2025, after President Emmanuel Macron and the government announced new austerity measures and budget cuts affecting pensions, transport, and public sector pay.
Within days, transport unions, students, and left-wing collectives coordinated nationwide strikes and road blockades. Paris has seen some of the most intense unrest: restaurants and vehicles have been torched, barricades erected along major boulevards, and riot police deployed in force.
More than 350 arrests were made in Paris during a single day of demonstrations on 10 September, when a restaurant was set on fire. Protests have spread to Lyon, Marseille, and Lille, threatening to paralyse key sectors of the economy.
Although negotiations are underway between the government and union leaders, the movement remains active as of this week, with another nationwide strike called for later in the month.
Indonesia: Cost-of-Living Anger Turns Deadly
Indonesia’s unrest began in late August 2025, when anger erupted over parliamentarians’ perks and perceived government inaction during a cost-of-living crisis. The primary trigger for the protests was the government’s decision to raise the allowance for national parliamentarians, especially when they already make more than 30 times the average national income (including housing allowance).
The situation escalated dramatically after a Gojek rider was killed on 28 August when struck by a police vehicle in Jakarta. His death became a rallying point for students, labour unions, and activists, who launched demonstrations in more than 20 cities.
Violence soon followed. In Makassar, a local parliament building was set on fire, while in Jakarta, angry mobs raided and looted luxury items from the homes of several members of the government. Protesters also blocked roads and railways, and clashed with riot police outside government buildings. Security forces have used tear gas, water cannon, and rubber bullets. At least 8–10 people have been reported killed, and thousands detained. Meanwhile, neighbouring Malaysia, Singapore, Philippines, and Thailand used the hashtag #SEAblings to show support, sending the protesters food via Grab and Gojek.
As of mid-September, protests are ongoing, though smaller in scale as police continue to break up gatherings.
Australia: Immigration and Identity
Australia’s protests began in late August 2025, with a series of rallies branded “March for Australia” sweeping through major cities. The rallies, framed as opposition to immigration and housing shortages, have been marred by violence. In Melbourne, violent clashes between far-right nationalists and counter-protesters prompted police to deploy pepper spray and batons, leading to multiple arrests.
Authorities have since placed Melbourne CBD on high alert as of 11 September to prevent further possibly violent confrontations of rival protest groups. Officials warn that extremist networks — including neo-Nazis — are using the rallies to recruit, sparking renewed debate over national identity, migration policy, and freedom of assembly.
Gaza: Anti-Hamas Protests Amid War
In the Gaza Strip, rare and risky protests against Hamas have been taking place since March 2025. Civilians have taken to the streets despite the ongoing war with Israel, accusing Hamas of mismanagement and prioritising its military campaign over food, water, and reconstruction.
The response from Hamas security forces has been harsh: live fire has been used on demonstrators, dozens have been detained, and several accused collaborators publicly executed. At least one police officer has been killed in clashes. Although protests have quieted since July, sporadic flash demonstrations still occur in Gaza City and Khan Younis, indicating that public anger remains volatile.
Kinshasa: Diplomatic Missions Targeted
In the Democratic Republic of the Congo, unrest has been simmering since late January 2025, when rebel advances in the east sparked public anger at both the government and perceived foreign complicity. Protests quickly escalated into riots, with crowds looting shops and attacking diplomatic missions and UN facilities in Kinshasa.
While the intensity of the riots has decreased since March, sporadic violence still erupts, particularly when news of fresh rebel gains filters through. The crisis highlights deep resentment of both domestic elites and international actors, and security forces remain on high alert in the capital.
A Global Pattern
Whether sparked by censorship, corruption, economic hardship, or political repression, 2025’s protests share a common thread: citizens demanding accountability and reform. Social media has helped mobilise these movements but has also made state crackdowns more visible, fuelling a cycle of outrage and resistance.
Some governments, like Nepal’s, have seen top leaders resign; others, like France and Indonesia, are still in tense standoffs with protesters. The last quarter of the year will determine whether these movements lead to meaningful reform — or whether 2025 will go down as another year of global unrest in an increasingly turbulent decade.
