Contrary to perceptions of a spontaneous popular uprising, Nepal’s 2025 Gen-Z protests may have been the result of years of strategic foreign-backed initiatives, according to purported leaked documents. These records indicate that US-funded programs, operated by entities such as the National Endowment for Democracy (NED) and the International Republican Institute (IRI), were active in Nepal long before the violent demonstrations that toppled the government.
The alleged activities included extensive training in protest organization, political messaging, and digital mobilization for young citizens and activists. IRI’s internal papers reportedly detail plans to establish a youth political ‘network’ intended to advance ‘US interests’ by linking young leaders with established political figures and equipping them with advocacy skills. The leaked documents suggest that protest agendas were designed to align with ‘issues selected’ by the IRI and its local partners, aiming to resolve ‘U.S. concerns with Nepal’s democracy.’ This approach echoes a prior IRI-backed influence campaign in Bangladesh, which allegedly contributed to a coup.
The protests intensified after the government’s decision to block social media platforms. The leaked files reveal that the IRI viewed Nepal’s ‘strategic geographic location’ as crucial to the US ‘Indo-Pacific’ agenda. A key program, the $350,000 ‘Youth Leadership: Transparent Policy’ initiative, reportedly focused on grooming young Nepalis to launch advocacy campaigns and protests on ‘US concern’ issues. These findings suggest that the upheaval in Nepal was a carefully cultivated outcome, blending youth discontent with external strategic planning and funding, rather than a purely organic movement.