Nepal's newly appointed Prime Minister took office on Sunday and called for peace and unity to help rebuild the country following a wave of violent protests last week that claimed at least 72 lives and caused widespread destruction to government buildings and homes of political leaders.
Sushila Karki, the first woman to hold the prime ministerial post in Nepal, addressed senior officials at her temporary office, stating that each family of those killed in the protests would receive financial compensation of 1 million rupees (approximately $11,330). She also promised that the injured would receive appropriate care, according to state television reports.
“We must all come together to rebuild the nation,” Karki said, emphasizing her commitment to guiding the country back on a stable path.
The large-scale protests, dubbed the “Gen Z uprising,” began on September 8 in response to a short-lived social media ban. The movement, led mostly by young people, expressed deep frustration with systemic corruption and poverty, contrasting it with the affluent lifestyles of politicians’ children, often referred to as “nepo kids.”
Violence escalated rapidly as demonstrators stormed the parliament, prompting police to open fire. The unrest ultimately led to the resignation of former Prime Minister Khadga Prasad Oli, who fled his official residence amid the chaos.
On September 9, the day after police opened fire, protesters set fire to the prime minister’s official office — a converted white palace in Kathmandu — as well as the buildings housing the president’s office, the supreme court, key ministries, and police stations. Businesses linked to influential families, including several outlets of a major supermarket chain, were also targeted.
Stability returned after the army took control of the streets that night, and discussions began between the protesters, the military, and the president regarding the formation of an interim government.
Karki, 73, was officially appointed on September 12. She previously served as Nepal’s only female chief justice (2016–2017), earning public respect for her anti-corruption efforts.
New parliamentary elections have been scheduled for March 5.