Sushila Karki becomes Nepal’s 1st Female Prime Minister

Nepal’s former Supreme Court chief justice Sushila Karki has become interim Prime Minister after mass anti-corruption protests forced the government’s collapse.

The 73-year-old was sworn in during a short ceremony, making history as the first woman to lead the nation.

The transition followed an agreement between protest leaders and President Ram Chandra Poudel.

More than 50 people were killed this week as protests escalated following the government’s ban on 26 social media platforms.

The ban, introduced last week, was lifted on September 8 but unrest had already intensified.

Angry demonstrators torched parliament and government offices in Kathmandu, forcing Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli to resign.

Parliament was dissolved late on September 12 and new elections were announced for March 5, 2026.

Legal experts and protest leaders were part of the negotiations that paved the way for Karki’s appointment.

Karki is expected to appoint ministers in the coming days. She is widely seen as having a clean reputation and enjoys strong backing from student leaders associated with Nepal’s so-called “Gen Z” protests.

Her interim government faces several challenges: restoring law and order, reconstructing parliament and other damaged sites, and addressing concerns over Nepal’s fragile democracy.

Another priority will be bringing those responsible for the violence to justice.

Karki’s appointment was described as a compromise, reached after negotiations facilitated by Nepal’s army chief earlier this week.

Elated Gen Z activists expressed joy online, calling it the first step towards the political change they demand.

Karki visited the protest site in Kathmandu where 19 people had died in clashes the previous day. She also met some of the injured being treated in hospital wards across the city.

Born into a family connected with the Koirala political dynasty, Sushila Karki later married Nepali Congress leader Durga Subedi.

She credits him for supporting her journey from lawyer to Nepal’s first female chief justice in 2016.

Her tenure as chief justice lasted nearly 11 months and was not without controversy. She survived an impeachment attempt, but her reputation as a reformist judge boosted her standing with protest leaders.

The army continues patrolling Kathmandu, where restrictions were briefly lifted to let residents buy essentials. The protests are Nepal’s worst unrest in decades, reflecting long-standing anger with corruption and elite privilege.

The government’s ban on social media, including WhatsApp, Facebook and Instagram, triggered the uprising.

In the weeks prior, a viral “nepo kid” campaign exposed politicians’ children flaunting wealth and ignited a broader anti-corruption backlash.

Although the ban ended Monday night, the protests had already become an unstoppable force. For now, Nepal’s first female prime minister leads a fragile country at a historic crossroads.