Who is Sushila Karki? Nepal swears in first female prime minister amid unrest

Nepal has installed its first-ever female prime minister after a week of deadly political turmoil and mass demonstrations.

On Friday, President Ramchandra Paudel administered the oath of office to Sushila Karki, a 73-year-old former Supreme Court chief justice, who will head an interim administration. Karki, who made history as Nepal’s only female chief justice in 2016–2017, was widely respected for her independence during her time on the bench.

Her appointment follows the collapse of the previous government under Khadga Prasad Oli. He resigned and fled his residence on Tuesday after violent protests engulfed Kathmandu and other major cities.

The unrest began when authorities announced a sudden ban on social media platforms including Facebook and YouTube, sparking accusations of censorship and corruption. Although the government lifted the ban the following day, anger continued to mount.

Over the past week, at least 51 people have been killed. Protesters set fire to government buildings — including parliament — as well as luxury hotels such as the Hilton and Hyatt. Reports of a jailbreak in central Kathmandu also emerged.

Police responded with tear gas, water cannons and live ammunition, according to the Associated Press. By Tuesday night, the army had moved in to secure the capital and mediate between protesters, political leaders and the president to form a temporary administration.

Nepal has a long history of popular uprisings, including the 1990 pro-democracy movement and the 2006 protests that ended the monarchy two years later. Analysts say the current unrest could mark another pivotal moment for the Himalayan nation’s political future.