Nepal’s newly appointed interim prime minister, Sushila Karki, pledged Sunday to follow protesters’ demands to “end corruption” as she took charge after mass youth-led demonstrations forced the resignation of her predecessor.
Karki, 73, a former chief justice, has been tasked with restoring order and addressing calls for a corruption-free future before elections scheduled in six months. The protests, triggered by a ban on social media and fuelled by long-standing economic grievances, escalated quickly last week, with parliament and key government buildings set ablaze.
“We have to work according to the thinking of the Gen Z generation,” Karki said in her first public remarks since assuming office Friday.
According to the World Bank, one in five Nepalis aged 15–24 is unemployed, while GDP per capita stands at just $1,447 in the Himalayan nation of 30 million people. “What this group is demanding is the end of corruption, good governance and economic equality,” she added.
On Sunday, Karki observed a minute’s silence for those killed in the unrest before convening meetings at Singha Durbar, the government complex where several buildings were torched during Tuesday’s protests.
Government chief secretary Eaknarayan Aryal confirmed that at least 72 people were killed and 191 injured in two days of unrest, revising an earlier toll of 51. It marked Nepal’s worst violence since the end of its civil war and the abolition of the monarchy in 2008.
Her appointment, widely viewed as independent, followed intense negotiations led by army chief General Ashok Raj Sigdel and President Ram Chandra Paudel, who also engaged representatives of the “Gen Z” protest movement. Thousands of activists had backed her via the Discord app.
“The situation that I have come in, I have not wished to come here. My name was brought from the streets,” Karki said.
With parliament dissolved, elections have been scheduled for March 5, 2026. In a national address, Karki assured that the interim government’s tenure would not exceed six months. “We will not stay here more than six months in any situation, we will complete our responsibilities and pledge to hand over to the next parliament and ministers,” she said.
Ordinary citizens voiced both hope and caution. “This government’s list of responsibilities and issues to address isn’t easy,” said grocery shopkeeper Satya Narayan, 69, from Pharping village near Kathmandu. “It also needs to ensure unity and harmony in the country by taking all sections along.”
President Paudel, who swore Karki into office, described the outcome as “a peaceful solution has been found through a difficult process.” Soldiers have since scaled back their deployment, though security concerns remain with over 12,500 prisoners still at large after escaping during the chaos.
Regional leaders including India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi and China’s foreign ministry congratulated Karki. Modi said New Delhi supported “peace, progress and prosperity” in Nepal, while Beijing pledged to “push China-Nepal relations steadily forward.”
The Dalai Lama also extended his wishes, saying he hoped Karki would have “every success in fulfilling the hopes and aspirations of the people of Nepal in these challenging times.”
BOB Post
