Nepal witnessed a historic moment on Friday as former Chief Justice Sushila Karki took the oath of office as the country’s first woman prime minister. The swearing-in ceremony took place at Sheetal Niwas, the official residence of the President of Nepal, where President Ramchandra Paudel administered the oath of office and secrecy.
Karki has been appointed interim prime minister with a clear mandate: to oversee national elections within six months, The Kathmandu Post reported.
A Nation in Upheaval
Her appointment follows the resignation of former Prime Minister K.P. Sharma Oli, who stepped down earlier this week amid violent anti-graft protests. The unrest, the worst the Himalayan nation has faced in years, erupted after the government imposed — and later rolled back — a ban on social media platforms.
At least 51 people were killed and more than 1,300 injured in clashes between protesters and security forces. The protests only subsided after Oli’s resignation, opening the path for an interim government.
Who Is Sushila Karki?
Seventy-year-old Sushila Karki is no stranger to breaking barriers. In 2016, she became Nepal’s first female chief justice, earning a reputation as a fearless and independent voice in the judiciary. During her tenure, she presided over corruption-related cases and was seen as a defender of accountability and transparency.
Political observers say her credibility as a nonpartisan figure was central to her appointment as interim prime minister.
“Karki’s term will be short, but her task is monumental,” said Madhav Adhikari, a professor of political science at Kathmandu University. “She must stabilize the administration and restore public trust while steering the country toward elections.”
The Road Ahead
For Nepal, the immediate challenge is twofold: restoring calm in a nation rattled by violence, and ensuring free and fair elections in the months ahead.
While the challenges are daunting, Karki’s appointment marks a historic first for Nepal — the moment a woman assumed leadership of the nation.