Nepal’s new interim prime minister, Sushila Karki, unveiled her first cabinet appointments on Monday as the country works to restore stability following deadly anti-corruption protests that toppled the previous government.
The swearing-in ceremony took place under an outdoor awning against the charred backdrop of the fire-damaged presidential office. President Ram Chandra Paudel administered the oath of office to three key ministers, with the event broadcast live on national television.
The protests, which erupted on September 8 after a controversial ban on social media, quickly escalated into the worst unrest since the end of Nepal’s civil war and the abolition of the monarchy in 2008. Demonstrators torched parliament and several government buildings, leaving at least 72 people dead and nearly 200 others hospitalized, according to official figures.
Karki, 73, a former chief justice, has been tasked with addressing protesters’ demands for a corruption-free government ahead of elections scheduled for March.
Among the newly appointed ministers is Om Prakash Aryal, a prominent advocate known for tackling corruption, governance, and human rights. He will serve as Home Minister while also overseeing Law, Justice, and Parliamentary Affairs.
Kulman Ghising, the former director of the Nepal Electricity Authority who is credited with ending years of power shortages, will head the ministries of Energy, Infrastructure, Transport, and Urban Development.
Respected economist and former finance secretary Rameshwor Khanal takes on the critical Finance Ministry, where he faces the challenge of tackling unemployment and economic instability — key drivers of the uprising.
As Nepal navigates this volatile period, the new cabinet will be under pressure to meet public demands, restore order, and chart a path toward political and economic reform.
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