Nepal Appoints First Female Prime Minister Amid Deadly Protests

Nepal has made history by appointing its first female prime minister, Sushila Karki, following a week of violent protests that led to the collapse of the previous government. The former Supreme Court chief justice took the oath of office late on Friday to lead an interim government. Karki, aged 73, is known for her strong stance against corruption during her tenure as the court’s only female chief justice from 2016 to 2017.

Her appointment comes on the heels of a tumultuous week in Nepal, where over 50 people lost their lives in clashes with riot police. The unrest began after the government imposed an abrupt ban on 26 social media platforms, including Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, and X (Twitter), in an effort to silence criticism. This ban only intensified frustrations among the youth, who are already disillusioned by rampant corruption, high unemployment, and a political elite perceived as unaccountable.

Although the social media ban was lifted on Monday, protests escalated, culminating in demonstrators setting fire to parliament and government buildings in the capital, Kathmandu, on Tuesday. This wave of violence forced Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli to resign. Reports indicate that many of the deceased were protesters killed by police fire, while three police officers also lost their lives during the unrest.

In response to the escalating violence, the military imposed a curfew on Tuesday, allowing residents limited time to purchase food and supplies while soldiers patrolled the streets of Kathmandu. This is not the first instance of social media censorship in Nepal; in 2023, the government banned TikTok, alleging it spread indecent content and disrupted “social harmony.” That ban was later reversed when TikTok agreed to comply with local regulations.

The current protests are among the deadliest in Nepal’s recent history, surpassing the fatalities of the 2006 uprising that led to the end of the monarchy. Earlier this year, two people died during royalist rallies in Kathmandu after clashes with police. Following Oli’s resignation, protesters are now calling for the dissolution of the entire government, heightening concerns about further instability in a nation that has seen 13 administrations since 2008.

Despite the chaos, Karki has garnered support from the youth to lead the interim government. On Tuesday, she visited protest sites in Kathmandu, where she met with injured individuals receiving treatment in hospitals. Karki hails from a family with ties to the Koirala political dynasty, associated with the country’s largest democratic party, the Nepali Congress. She is married to Durga Subedi, a former youth leader of the same party.

As Nepal navigates this challenging period, the appointment of its first female prime minister could signal a new chapter in the nation’s political landscape, one that may bring hope for reform and stability in a country grappling with deep-rooted issues.