Nepal’s Interim PM appoints ministers after deadly anti-corruption protests

Nepal’s new interim Prime Minister unveiled her first cabinet ministers on Monday, as the Himalayan nation begins efforts to restore order following deadly youth-led anti-corruption protests that toppled the previous government.

In a ceremony held under an outdoor awning, with the fire-scarred presidential office as a backdrop, President Ram Chandra Paudel administered the oath of office to three key ministers. The event was broadcast live on national television.

The protests, which were triggered by a controversial social media ban and fuelled by deep-rooted economic frustrations, began on 8 September and escalated rapidly. Demonstrators set fire to Parliament and several government buildings.

This marked the most serious unrest since the end of Nepal’s decade-long civil war and the abolition of the monarchy in 2008.

According to government figures, at least 72 people were killed during two days of violence, while 191 remain in hospital recovering from injuries.

Prime Minister Sushila Karki, the 73-year-old former Chief Justice, has been tasked with addressing the demands of protesters calling for a corruption-free future, ahead of elections scheduled for March.

Among her new appointees is Om Prakash Aryal, a prominent advocate known for his work on corruption, governance, and human rights. He will serve as Home Minister and also oversee law, justice and parliamentary affairs.

Kulman Ghising, the former director of the Nepal Electricity Authority — widely credited with resolving the country’s chronic power shortages — has been appointed Minister for Energy, Infrastructure, Transport and Urban Development.

Rameshwor Khanal, a respected economist and former Finance Secretary, will take on the key finance portfolio — a challenging role amid high unemployment and economic instability.

Youth unemployment remains a pressing issue in Nepal, with one in five people aged 15–24 out of work, according to the World Bank. The country’s GDP per capita currently stands at just $1,447.