Nepal has sworn in former Chief Justice Sushila Karki as interim Prime Minister in a bid to restore order after a week of deadly anti-corruption protests that rocked the country. She is Nepal’s first woman to assume the highest executive office, taking the oath of office at the Presidential Palace in Kathmandu in a ceremony broadcast live.
The protests, largely led by younger people dubbed “Gen Z,” erupted following a government ban on social media. Though the ban was later rescinded, public anger had already escalated over broader grievances including corruption, elitism, and poor governance. The demonstrations turned violent: at least 51 people were killed, over 1,300 injured, and government buildings and protester settings saw large-scale clashes with security forces.
Prime Minister K. P. Sharma Oli resigned on Tuesday amid mounting pressure. His departure followed the escalation of unrest, including torching of homes of senior political figures and the storming of public offices.
President Ram Chandra Poudel has dissolved the lower house of parliament, and fresh elections have been scheduled for March 5, 2026. Karki’s mandate is to lead a caretaker government until then—one expected to stabilise Nepali politics, address corruption allegations, and oversee the investigations into the violent clashes.
The streets of Kathmandu are slowly returning to normal: shops have reopened, traffic is flowing, and security forces appear less heavily deployed, though some areas remain tense and infrastructure damage is visible. Families of protest victims are receiving bodies from hospitals, while authorities face pressure to deliver justice.
Karki, aged 73, is widely seen by protestors and civil society as a person of integrity with a strong record against corruption. Her selection followed negotiations involving the President, the Army Chief Ashok Raj Sigdel, leaders of the protest movement, and constitutional experts working through how her appointment could be made legally given she is not a member of parliament.
Observers warn that while her appointment may ease immediate tensions, the challenges ahead are substantial: ensuring credible elections, rebuilding trust in state institutions, accounting for those killed and injured, and steering an already fragile economy.
