Nepal swears in new interim cabinet after deadly protests

Nepal has sworn in its first interim ministers under newly-appointed Prime Minister Sushila Karki, as the country struggles to restore calm after violent youth-led protests that left at least 72 people dead and hundreds injured.

Under an outdoor awning, with the charred remains of the presidential office still visible in the background, President Ram Chandra Paudel administered the oath of office to three key ministers in a ceremony broadcast nationwide on Monday. The solemn gathering began with a moment of silence for the victims of last week’s unrest, a gesture that underlined the magnitude of the crisis gripping the Himalayan nation.

The swearing-in comes just days after widespread demonstrations turned deadly across Kathmandu and several provinces. The protests were triggered by the government’s controversial decision to ban social media, which young Nepalese said was their only platform to call out corruption and demand accountability. The demonstrations quickly morphed into a broader anti-government movement, with parliament and major government buildings set ablaze, the worst violence the country has seen since the abolition of its monarchy in 2008.

See also: Death Toll in Nepal rises to 72

A cabinet for crisis

Prime Minister Karki, a 73-year-old former chief justice known for her integrity and no-nonsense approach, faces the monumental task of calming public anger and rebuilding trust in government ahead of general elections scheduled for March 2026.

To signal a break from the past, she appointed figures with strong reformist credentials. Om Prakash Aryal, a prominent advocate known for high-profile cases against graft and abuse of power, will serve as home minister as well as minister for law, justice, and parliamentary affairs, a nod to protesters’ calls for systemic anti-corruption reforms.

Kulman Ghising, celebrated for ending Nepal’s years-long electricity load-shedding crisis as director of the Nepal Electricity Authority, takes charge of energy, infrastructure, transport, and urban development portfolios. His appointment is widely seen as a push to revive stalled infrastructure projects and address Nepal’s fragile economy.

Rameshwor Khanal, a respected economist and former finance secretary, will lead the finance ministry, where he is expected to focus on unemployment and economic reforms. The World Bank estimates that one in five young Nepalese aged 15-24 are unemployed, a statistic frequently cited by protest leaders as proof of the government’s failures.

Balancing expectations and stability

The new cabinet’s first challenge will be to manage expectations while keeping order on the streets. Protest leaders have given the interim government until the end of September to announce concrete anti-corruption measures, including the creation of an independent watchdog and reforms to public procurement systems.

Observers say the government must also address the immediate economic pressures that fueled the unrest. Rising prices of fuel and food, coupled with limited job opportunities, have pushed many young people to the edge. Analysts warn that without swift action, Nepal risks further instability that could derail its fragile democratic gains.

Monday’s ceremony offered a glimpse of cautious optimism. Crowds gathered outside the presidential compound to watch the proceedings on big screens, some waving the national flag, others holding placards demanding “New Nepal, No Corruption.”

Prime Minister Karki, speaking briefly after the ceremony, said her government would focus on transparency, justice, and economic inclusion. “This is not just an interim government, it is a promise to the youth that their voices have been heard,” she said.

Whether this cabinet can deliver on its promises will likely determine the tone of next year’s elections, and perhaps the future of Nepal’s democratic experiment. For now, the country waits, watching to see if this moment of political transition can finally usher in the change its young population has been demanding.