Nepal is gradually returning to peace after days of violent political unrest. The country witnessed a surprising twist in leadership, and the credit goes to an unexpected platform — Discord.
On Friday, former Chief Justice Sushila Karki made history by becoming Nepal’s first woman prime minister. She now leads an interim government. What makes her rise extraordinary is how she was selected. Instead of traditional politics, Gen Z protestors relied on Discord to elect their leader.
The social platform, created in 2015 by Jason Citron and Stanislav Vishnevskiy, was originally built for gamers. Over time, it expanded into a hub for global communities. Its straightforward design, voice and video features, and strong moderation tools have made it popular among younger users worldwide.
In Nepal, protestors harnessed that digital power to coordinate mass demonstrations. They launched a server called Youth Against Corruption, which reportedly has over 130,000 members. Within the server, they built organized channels for announcements, ground updates, fact-checking, helplines, and news sharing. This transformed Discord into a virtual command center.
When Prime Minister K.P. Sharma Oli resigned, the group moved quickly. On September 10, more than 7,700 votes were cast on the platform. Sushila Karki secured over 50 percent support, giving her the mandate. A day later, she met President Ram Chandra Poudel and Army Chief Gen. Ashok Raj Sigdel to formalize her role.
With curfews lifted across Kathmandu Valley and other regions, daily life is now stabilizing. The use of Discord in Nepal’s political shift has highlighted how digital platforms are shaping democracy in new and unexpected ways.
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