Nepal appoints its first ever female prime minister after deadly protests
First female prime minister appointed in Nepal after days of unrest
- 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.