Nepal returns to calm as first woman PM takes charge

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Nepals new Prime Minster Sushila Karki appeared to be widely welcomed as people sought to put the unrest behind them.

PHOTO: REUTERS

KATHMANDU – Nepal’s capital on Sept 13 took a step back towards normality after deadly anti-corruption protests, as daily life returned with a curfew eased and an interim Prime Minister sworn into office.

Soldiers scaled back their presence on the streets, where they had been deployed in large numbers since Sept 10 after violent demonstrations

toppled the government and left Parliament in flames.

At least 51 people were killed in the worst unrest since the end of a decade-long civil war and the abolition of the monarchy in 2008.

On the evening of Sept 12, 73-year-old former chief justice Sushila Karki

was sworn in as interim leader

Parliament was later dissolved, elections set for March 5, 2026, and work to restore the government began.

By the morning of Sept 13, the mood on the streets was calmer, with markets opening, traffic returning and families visiting temples.

For many Nepalis, Ms Karki’s appointment carried both symbolic weight and the promise of change.

“Nepal has got its first woman Prime Minister,” said social worker Suraj Bhattarai, who is 51.

“We think that the Prime Minister – our former chief justice – will address Nepal’s fight against corruption and take good governance forward.”

The appointment of Ms Karki, known for her independence, came after intense negotiations by army chief General Ashok Raj Sigdel and President Ram Chandra