On September 12, 2025, history was made in Nepal. In a ceremony at the president’s office in Kathmandu, Sushila Karki took the oath as the country’s first woman prime minister—albeit on an interim basis. Her appointment came at the end of one of the most tumultuous weeks the Himalayan nation has seen in years, as mass protests swept through the streets, toppling the previous government and leaving a trail of destruction, heartbreak, and—perhaps—a glimmer of hope for change.
The unrest that led to this historic moment was ignited by a government-imposed ban on social media platforms, including Facebook and Instagram, a move that struck a nerve with Nepal’s youth. According to Reuters, the ban was the final straw for a generation already frustrated with corruption, unemployment, and what many described as the lavish lifestyles of political elites and their families. The so-called "Gen Z" protests erupted in Kathmandu and quickly spread nationwide, with tens of thousands of young people blocking roads, storming government buildings, and even setting fire to the iconic Singha Durbar palace—the seat of the Nepali government.
The violence was staggering. Over the course of the week, at least 51 people lost their lives—most of them protesters killed by police fire, but also three police officers during a chaotic jail break attempt. More than 1,300 others were injured, and property damage was extensive. Airports, a TV news station, and politicians’ homes were all targeted. The parliament itself was left in flames, and the army took control of the capital, enforcing a strict curfew that gave residents only brief windows to buy essentials. By Saturday, as reported by The Independent, the curfew was lifted and daily life in Kathmandu began to resume, with shops reopening and vehicles once again plying the streets.
Behind the scenes, a dramatic power shift was underway. Prime Minister Khadga Prasad Oli resigned and fled his official residence on September 10, leaving a power vacuum. What followed was a remarkable negotiation between the army, President Ram Chandra Poudel, and representatives of the protest movement—many of them young activists who had organized on social media and the chat platform Discord. According to NDTV, Discord servers with over 145,000 members hosted heated debates and polls to nominate possible interim leaders. Sushila Karki, a 73-year-old former Supreme Court Chief Justice known for her unwavering stance against corruption, quickly emerged as the favorite. As one protest organizer told The New York Times, “The parliament of Nepal right now is Discord.”
Karki’s reputation preceded her. She was the only female chief justice in Nepal’s history, serving from 2016 to 2017, and had presided over several landmark anti-graft cases—including the conviction of a sitting Information and Communications Minister and the overturning of a controversial police chief appointment. Her integrity was so widely recognized that, when lawmakers attempted to impeach her in 2017 on allegations of bias, public protests erupted in defense of judicial independence. The impeachment motion was ultimately withdrawn, but the episode cemented her status as a symbol of accountability in government.
Her appointment as interim prime minister was the result of two days of intense negotiations between President Poudel, Army Chief Ashok Raj Sigdel, and leaders of the Gen Z protest movement. As Reuters noted, Karki’s swearing-in was swiftly followed by President Poudel dissolving the House of Representatives and setting March 5, 2026, as the date for fresh elections—actions taken on Karki’s recommendation. The previous legislative elections had been held in 2022, but the depth of public anger made new polls all but inevitable.
On her first day in office, Karki visited injured protesters at the Civil Hospital in Kathmandu, pledging, “I will work with everything I have.” She was greeted by supporters and relatives of those killed during the protests, many of whom demanded that the deceased be declared martyrs and that their families receive compensation. As Sumitra Mahat, whose 21-year-old brother was killed during the protests, told Reuters, “My brother should be declared a martyr as he died for the country, and the government should give compensation to my parents.” Some families refused to collect the bodies of their loved ones from the morgue until these demands were met.
India, Nepal’s powerful neighbor, was quick to weigh in. Prime Minister Narendra Modi posted a congratulatory message to Karki on X, stating, “India is fully committed to the peace, progress, and prosperity of Nepal’s brothers and sisters.” The international community is watching closely, mindful that Nepal—tucked between China and India—has grappled with political and economic instability since the abolition of its monarchy in 2008. Chronic unemployment has driven millions of young Nepalis to seek work abroad, and the recent unrest has highlighted the urgency of addressing these long-standing challenges.
For many young protesters, the appointment of Karki represents a rare victory. Videos circulating on social media showed demonstrators cleaning up the streets of Kathmandu after days of chaos, a symbolic gesture reflecting their desire for a new beginning. As BBC reported, the military began relaxing the curfew and police resumed operations in the capital, while the Supreme Court and banks prepared to reopen in phases after suffering damage during the unrest.
Karki’s personal history is intertwined with Nepal’s broader struggle for democracy. She and her husband, Durga Prasad Subedi, were both active in the people’s movement of the 1990s that ended the country’s absolute monarchy and the panchayat system. Karki was imprisoned during that time and later wrote a novel, Kara, based on her experiences. Her husband, a former youth leader of the Nepali Congress, was also jailed for his alleged role in a dramatic Royal Nepal Airlines hijacking to fund the anti-monarchy struggle.
Now, as Nepal stands at a crossroads, Karki faces daunting immediate challenges. The wounds from the recent violence are still fresh. Relatives of the deceased continue to demand recognition and justice. The economy remains fragile, and the political system is in flux. Yet, for the first time in Nepal’s history, a woman sits at the helm—chosen not just by political elites, but by a grassroots movement powered by the country’s youth and fueled by the very social media platforms that sparked the uprising.
With elections scheduled for March 5, 2026, all eyes are on Nepal and its new interim leader. The coming months will test whether this unprecedented moment can deliver the peace, accountability, and opportunity that so many have risked so much to demand.