First female prime minister appointed in Nepal after days of unrest

WorldPolitics
13 Sep 2025 • 6:40 AM MYT
The Independent
The Independent

The world’s most free-thinking newspaper

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  • Nepal has appointed Sushila Karki, a 73-year-old former Supreme Court chief justice, as its first female prime minister to lead an interim government.
  • Her appointment follows a week of widespread unrest and deadly protests across the country, which led to the resignation of the previous prime minister, KP Sharma Oli.
  • The protests were initially sparked by the government's ban on 26 social media platforms, exacerbating public frustration over corruption, high unemployment, and perceived political unaccountability.
  • More than 50 people died in clashes with riot police, including protesters and police officers, prompting the military to enforce a curfew in the capital, Kathmandu.
  • Karki, known for her anti-corruption stance, is supported by young people to lead the interim administration amidst calls for broader governmental dissolution and fears of further instability.

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