Nepal’s New Interim Government Sworn In Amid Unrest: A Nation’s Hope for Healing Begins

KATHMANDU, Sept 15 — In a moment of solemn urgency and cautious optimism, Nepal’s new interim Prime Minister, Sushila Karki, was joined by her freshly appointed ministers in a modest but symbolic oath-taking ceremony today—held not in grandeur, but under an open awning, against the charred walls of the fire-damaged presidential office.

The ceremony came just days after the country witnessed its worst unrest in decades—a wave of youth-led anti-corruption protests that erupted on September 8 after a controversial social media ban, compounding public frustration over long-standing economic hardship and governance failures. The protests rapidly escalated into chaos, with mobs setting fire to government buildings, including the Parliament.

At least 72 lives were lost in just two days of violence. Hospitals are still treating 191 injured—wounds not only of the body but of a nation struggling to redefine its identity and direction.

In the wake of this turmoil, 73-year-old Sushila Karki, a respected former Chief Justice, has been entrusted with a daunting mission: restore peace, deliver accountability, and prepare for national elections in March.

Her cabinet includes:

• Om Prakash Aryal, an outspoken anti-corruption advocate, now serving as Home Minister and heading the Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs portfolios.

• Kulman Ghising, the man behind ending Nepal’s chronic electricity blackouts, now leading Energy, Infrastructure, Transport, and Urban Development.

• Rameshwor Khanal, a veteran economist and former Finance Secretary, who takes over the Finance Ministry, as Nepal grapples with severe youth unemployment and economic stagnation.

According to the World Bank, nearly 20% of Nepali youth (ages 15-24) remain jobless, and the country’s GDP per capita stands at just USD 1,447. These figures fuel the anger behind the uprising—and highlight the urgency of reforms.

Yet beyond the statistics and ceremonies lies a deeper truth: this is more than a government reshuffle. This is a reckoning—a call from Nepal’s youth to be heard, to be included, and to no longer be ignored.

Now is the time for listening. For action. For change.
Nepal stands at a turning point. The question is no longer whether the unrest has shaken the state—but whether the state is finally ready to rebuild from within.

Let this be not just a transition of power—but a transformation of purpose.