Kathmandu: Nepal’s newly appointed interim Prime Minister, Sushila Karki, visited hospitals on Saturday to meet young activists injured during recent anti-corruption protests, marking her first public act after taking office. The demonstrations, led by the Gen Z movement, were the most violent since Nepal’s civil war ended in 2008 and the monarchy was abolished, resulting in at least 51 deaths and over 1,300 injuries. The unrest, sparked by a controversial social media ban, led to the resignation of former Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli and the dissolution of parliament.
Karki, Nepal’s first female prime minister and former chief justice, was sworn in by President Ram Chandra Paudel on Friday. Her appointment followed intense negotiations involving the president, army chief General Ashok Raj Sigdel, and protest leaders, who endorsed Karki for her reputation for integrity. The protests, organized via the Discord platform, saw young Nepalis rally against systemic corruption, with one 23-year-old from Kathmandu, Sid Ghimiri, quoted by The Kathmandu Post describing the parliament as “Discord” due to the movement’s digital coordination.
As Nepal returns to normalcy, schools in Pokhara are set to reopen on September 17, according to The Kathmandu Post. The violence, which saw buildings burned and Oli’s residence attacked, has subsided, with military curfews lifted and daily life resuming in Kathmandu. Karki’s interim government is tasked with restoring order and preparing for parliamentary elections scheduled for March 5, 2026, as announced by the president’s office.
Karki’s hospital visits signal a commitment to addressing the protesters’ demands for a corruption-free government. Her leadership marks a historic shift in Nepal’s political landscape, with the nation looking to heal from the recent upheaval. The Kathmandu Post reported that Karki plans to form a streamlined cabinet to navigate the country through this transitional period, aligning with calls from civil society and the youth-led movement for accountable governance.
Nepal’s First Female PM Visits Injured Protesters as Nation Stabilizes
