Sushila Karki Assumes Interim Leadership in Nepal Following Anti-Corruption Uprising

KATHMANDU — September 12, 2025 — Nepal’s former Supreme Court chief justice Sushila Karki has been sworn in as interim prime minister following a week of violent anti-corruption protests that toppled the government and left more than 50 people dead.

Karki, 73, took the oath of office on Friday evening in Kathmandu, becoming the first woman to lead the Himalayan nation. Her appointment was the result of an agreement between President Ram Chandra Poudel and protest leaders after days of consultations involving legal experts and the army chief, who mediated the talks.

The protests, initially triggered by a controversial government ban on 26 social media platforms including Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp, quickly escalated into a wider movement against corruption and political privilege. Demonstrators stormed parliament on Tuesday, setting fire to government buildings and forcing Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli to resign.

Although the ban was lifted on Monday, the unrest had already gained momentum. At least 19 people were killed in a single day of clashes earlier this week, with hospitals overwhelmed by the injured. Army patrols continue to guard the streets of Kathmandu as residents fear further instability.

Parliament was formally dissolved on Friday, and fresh general elections are scheduled for March 5 next year. Karki is expected to announce her cabinet in the coming days, with student leaders from the “Gen Z” protest movement pledging their support.

Her administration faces daunting challenges: restoring order, rebuilding the parliament complex and other damaged infrastructure, addressing public anger over corruption, and ensuring accountability for the violence.

Karki is widely respected for her clean public image, though her tenure as chief justice in 2016–17 was not without controversy, including an impeachment attempt that cut her term short. On Tuesday, she visited protest sites in Kathmandu, met families of victims, and spoke with those injured in the clashes.

Born into a family with ties to Nepal’s influential Koirala political dynasty, Karki rose from practicing law to becoming the country’s first female chief justice. She has credited her late husband, Nepali Congress leader Durga Subedi, for supporting her career.

For many of the young protesters who fueled the movement, her appointment symbolizes a new political course. Social media platforms, once banned, are now filled with celebratory posts from Gen Z activists who hope Karki’s leadership will mark a break from Nepal’s entrenched political elite.

Still, the coming months will test her interim government’s ability to deliver stability and chart a path forward for Nepal’s fragile democracy.