Nepal Names First Female Interim Prime Minister After Week of Deadly Protests

Kathmandu, September 12, 2025 — Nepal has taken a dramatic turn in its political landscape after nationwide unrest forced the resignation of Prime Minister K.P. Sharma Oli and the dissolution of its parliament. In a historic move, former Supreme Court Chief Justice Sushila Karki was appointed interim prime minister, becoming the first woman to hold the role in Nepal. Financial Times+3AP News+3Reuters+3

The unrest, led largely by young people from what is being called the “Gen Z” movement, was sparked by a controversial ban on social media platforms. While the ban was later rescinded, broader grievances over corruption, political nepotism, and limited job opportunities continued to fuel protests. The Guardian+2Al Jazeera+2 Over the week, the violence escalated—police responded with force, buildings were set ablaze, and at least 51 people were killed with over 1,300 injured across the country. The Guardian+3Reuters+3Al Jazeera+3

In the wake of the unrest, President Ram Chandra Poudel, in consultation with Nepal’s military leadership and representatives from the protest movement, appointed Karki. She was sworn in during a televised ceremony late Friday. One of her first acts as interim prime minister was to dissolve the current parliament and call for fresh national elections, scheduled for March 5, 2026. Wikipedia+3Reuters+3Reuters+3

Sushila Karki, 73, is not new to the spotlight. She served as Nepal’s Chief Justice from 2016 to 2017 and developed a reputation for standing up against corruption, taking on high-profile cases involving ministers and law enforcement. Her reputation among protestors is one of integrity and judicial independence, qualities seen as essential during this period of transition. Wikipedia+3Reuters+3The Times of India+3

With the country gradually returning to a fragile calm—curfews are being lifted in Kathmandu and other regions, shops and public services are reopening, and security forces are scaling down—many Nepalis are cautiously optimistic. However, there are urgent calls from protestors’ families for investigations into the deaths, accountability for abuses by security forces, and systemic reforms to ensure that grievances over corruption and inequality are addressed. Wikipedia+3Reuters+3AP News+3

As Karki takes office, her interim government faces major challenges: restoring trust in public institutions, maintaining peace and order, ensuring a credible electoral process, and healing divisions caused by the upheaval. Whether Nepal can use this moment to reset its political culture remains to be seen.

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