Sushila Karki becomes first woman interim PM amid Gen Z revolt

Kathmandu, Nepal – September 14, 2025 – In a landmark moment for Nepalese politics, former Supreme Court Chief Justice Sushila Karki was sworn in as the country’s interim prime minister on September 12, 2025, marking the first time a woman has held the nation’s highest executive office. The appointment, administered by President Ramchandra Paudel at the presidential palace in Kathmandu, comes in the wake of a tumultuous Gen Z-led uprising that ousted her predecessor, Khadga Prasad Sharma Oli, after weeks of escalating protests that exposed deep-seated frustrations with corruption, governance failures, and economic stagnation.

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The protests, which erupted in early September, represented one of the most significant youth-driven movements in Nepal’s modern history. Sparked initially by a controversial government-imposed ban on social media platforms, the demonstrations quickly ballooned into a nationwide call for systemic reform.

Young activists, predominantly from Generation Z—those born between the mid-1990s and early 2010s—took to the streets, decrying the ban’s disruption to education, online learning, and digital communication in a country where internet access has become integral to daily life, especially following the COVID-19 pandemic. The ban, intended to curb “misinformation,” instead amplified grievances over unemployment, nepotism, and the perceived stranglehold of entrenched political elites.

Reports by sources highlight the scale of the unrest: at least 51 people were killed in clashes between protesters and security forces, with over 200 injuries reported in the initial days alone. Official figures from Nepal’s health ministry later revised the injury toll to more than 1,300, underscoring the intensity of the confrontations.

Significant property damage marred the capital and other cities, including the shocking arson attack on the parliament building in Kathmandu, which symbolized the protesters’ rage against a legislature seen as complicit in perpetuating corruption.

Videos circulating on reinstated social media platforms showed flames engulfing the iconic structure, with protesters chanting slogans like “Burn the old order!” as police fired tear gas and rubber bullets to disperse crowds.

At the heart of the movement was a palpable sense of betrayal among Nepal’s youth. With youth unemployment hovering around 20%, according to recent World Bank estimates, many Gen Z demonstrators viewed the social media ban as the final straw in a litany of failures by Oli’s administration.

“We couldn’t even access our online classes or share our stories,” said 19-year-old protester Binu KC, a university student from Kathmandu, in an interview with the media. KC, who joined the marches after her exams were disrupted, became a viral symbol of the uprising; her tearful video, pleading for “a Nepal where we don’t have to fight for basics,” garnered millions of views before the ban was lifted.

Her words encapsulated the broader frustration: a generation raised on promises of democratic progress after Nepal’s 2008 transition from monarchy to republic, only to face economic inequality and political gridlock.

Sushila Karki becomes first woman interim PM

The violence peaked on September 8, when at least 19 deaths were reported in Kathmandu and Pokhara, prompting international concern. The United Nations expressed alarm over the escalating toll, with agencies in Nepal welcoming Sushila Karki‘s appointment as a step toward stability.

Oli, a veteran leader from the Communist Party of Nepal (Unified Marxist-Leninist), resigned on September 10 amid mounting pressure from protesters and coalition partners, paving the way for an interim government. Sushila Karki, aged 72 and known for her judicial independence during her tenure as chief justice from 2016 to 2017, was selected for her reputation as a neutral, incorruptible figure—qualities that resonated with the young activists who had demanded an apolitical leader to oversee transitional elections.

Karki’s rise challenges Nepal’s long-standing tradition of male-dominated, dynastic politics, where power has often cycled among a handful of influential families and factions. Historically, Nepalese governance has been marred by factionalism, dating back to the 19th century when rival clans like the Thapas and Pandes vied for control in the royal court.

The Thapa dynasty, led by figures such as Bhimsen Thapa, dominated early 1800s politics until their ouster in 1837 amid intrigue and power struggles. The Pandes, another aristocratic family, alternated with the Thapas in a pattern of musical chairs that weakened central authority and fueled instability. This legacy of elite infighting persisted into the 20th century, contributing to the Rana regime’s authoritarian rule until 1951.

In modern Nepal, similar dynamics have plagued the post-monarchy era. Political parties, including Oli’s UML and the Nepali Congress, have been riddled with internal factions, often along familial lines, leading to frequent government collapses—Nepal has seen 14 prime ministers since 2008. The Gen Z protesters explicitly targeted this “dynastic rot,” with banners reading “No more family fiefdoms” during marches. Karki, hailing from a non-political background in eastern Nepal and rising through the judiciary on merit, embodies the break from this cycle.

“She is not from any camp; she is justice personified,” said Manjita Manandhar, a 22-year-old Gen Z organizer, echoing sentiments from the movement. Read more news at Asia Global Bank.

Nepal’s Prime Ministers: List Since 2008