KATHMANDU, Sept 16: Nepal’s new interim Prime Minister, Sushila Karki, unveiled her first cabinet on Monday as the Himalayan nation attempts to restore order following deadly youth-led anti-corruption protests that toppled the previous government.
In an outdoor ceremony held against the backdrop of the fire-damaged presidential office, President Ram Chandra Paudel administered the oath of office to three key ministers.
Three key ministerial appointments were announced as part of the new interim government. Rameshwor Khanal, a former finance secretary and respected economist, assumed the Finance Ministry, tasked with tackling the unemployment crisis that helped fuel the recent uprising. According to the World Bank, a fifth of Nepalis aged 15–24 are unemployed, while GDP per capita stands at $1,447.
Four new ministers sworn in as PM Karki expands cabinet
Kulman Ghising, the former Managing Director of the Nepal Electricity Authority widely credited with ending the country’s long-standing load-shedding problem, was assigned the Energy, Infrastructure, Transport, and Urban Development ministries.
Om Prakash Aryal, a prominent advocate for human rights and good governance, was named Home Minister and also took charge of the Law, Justice, and Parliamentary Affairs portfolio.
The protests, triggered by a social media ban and long-standing economic grievances, began on September 8 and quickly escalated, with Parliament and other government buildings set ablaze.
The unrest marked the worst violence since the end of Nepal’s decade-long civil war and the abolition of the monarchy in 2008. At least 72 people were killed over two days, and 191 others remain hospitalized, according to government figures.
Seventy-three-year-old Karki, a former chief justice, has been entrusted with responding to youth demands for a corruption-free government ahead of elections scheduled on March 5.
Karki’s appointment followed intensive consultations involving Army Chief General Ashok Raj Sigdel, President Paudel, and representatives of the youth-led “Gen Z” movement. Thousands of young activists, using the Discord app, reportedly endorsed Karki as their preferred leader.
Karki acknowledged her reluctance to assume the post, saying her “name was brought from the streets.” She pledged that her government would align with the aspirations of the Gen Z generation, focusing on ending corruption, ensuring good governance, and promoting economic equality.
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