Former chief justice takes interim role after violent unrest leaves dozens dead and parliament burned
Nepal has appointed its first-ever female prime minister, Sushila Karki, following a week of violent protests that killed more than 70 people, injured over 1,300, and led to mass prison breaks. The 73-year-old former chief justice of the Supreme Court was sworn in on Friday as interim leader amid nationwide turmoil.
Appointment in Crisis
President Ramchandra Poudel confirmed Karki’s appointment on Friday (Sep 12), following the resignation of former Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli after parliament was set ablaze by protesters. Karki, the only woman ever to serve as Nepal’s chief justice, was sworn in at the presidential residence in Kathmandu.
Her appointment followed intense pressure from the streets, particularly from the Gen Z-led protest movement demanding an end to corruption and better governance. Constitutional experts described her as a consensus candidate, widely respected for her anti-corruption stance despite not being a member of parliament.
Deadly Protests and Escapes
The unrest erupted on September 8 after the government banned social media platforms, fueling mass demonstrations that escalated into violent clashes. Police crackdowns left at least 72 people dead, including 21 protesters, nine prisoners, three police officers, and dozens of civilians.
Amid the chaos, nearly 13,500 prisoners escaped from jails across Nepal, with more than 12,500 still at large as of Friday. Some fugitives have reportedly crossed into India, where border forces have detained several escapees.
A Gen Z-Backed Leader
Karki acknowledged she did not seek the role but accepted after demands from protesters. “We have to work according to the thinking of the Gen Z generation,” she said, pledging reforms in governance and economic equality. Analysts noted that while she enjoys credibility among young protesters, her popularity among older political factions remains uncertain.
Al Jazeera’s Rob McBride reported that Gen Z activists insisted on her appointment, pushing leaders to dissolve parliament as part of the deal to install her as interim prime minister.
Limited Mandate
Karki stated she will serve no longer than six months, pledging to oversee elections scheduled for March 5, 2026. “I will hand over to the new government which will emerge after elections,” she told reporters on Sunday.
During her tenure, she will face immense challenges: restoring law and order, rebuilding the vandalized parliament, and addressing widespread public anger over corruption and governance failures.
Signs of Fragile Calm
By Friday, shops reopened in Kathmandu and police carried batons instead of firearms, suggesting a tentative return to normalcy. Still, soldiers remained on some roads, and families continued collecting the bodies of relatives killed in the clashes.
One mourner, Karuna Budhathoki, recounted the loss of her 23-year-old nephew: “While his friends backed off, he decided to go ahead. We were told he was brought dead to the hospital.”
Sushila Karki’s appointment as Nepal’s first female prime minister marks a historic moment in the nation’s fragile democracy. Yet her interim leadership also underscores the country’s deep political instability, as corruption, governance failures, and youth-led discontent threaten to reshape its future. For Indonesia and Singapore, Nepal’s unrest is a stark reminder of how fragile governance structures can unravel when public frustration boils over.
Sources: Al Jazeera (2025) , BBC (2025)
Keywords: Nepal Political Crisis, Sushila Karki Appointed, First Female Prime Minister, Gen Z Protests, Anti-Corruption Movement
