Kathmandu, Nepal, 16 September 2025 —
Nepal’s new interim Prime Minister, Sushila Karki, has appointed her first cabinet ministers, taking a crucial step towards stabilizing the country after a week of deadly protests brought down the previous government. The new administration, led by the nation’s first-ever female prime minister, aims to govern until a new general election can be held in March 2026.
The appointments come in the wake of widespread youth-led demonstrations, which were initially sparked by a government social media ban but quickly escalated into a national anti-corruption movement. The protests, which were dubbed the “Gen Z protests,” culminated in the resignation of Prime Minister K.P. Sharma Oli and the dissolution of parliament. The unrest left dozens dead and resulted in the storming and burning of key government buildings.
A Cabinet of Technocrats
In a move widely seen as an attempt to restore public trust, Prime Minister Karki has chosen three ministers with professional backgrounds rather than political party affiliations. The new cabinet members are:
* Rameshore Khanal, a respected former finance secretary, as Finance Minister.
* Kulman Ghising, a popular former head of the Nepal Electricity Authority who is credited with ending years of crippling power cuts, as Energy Minister.
* Om Prakash Aryal, a noted lawyer who played a key role in the recent negotiations with the protest leaders, as Home Minister.
Prime Minister Karki, a former Chief Justice of Nepal’s Supreme Court, will oversee the remaining ministerial portfolios for now. Her appointment was supported by the youth protest movement and brokered through a series of talks involving the President and the Army Chief. Karki is widely seen as a neutral figure who stands above the political infighting that has plagued the country.
A Focus on Governance and Accountability
The new cabinet’s primary mandate is to restore order and prepare the country for early elections. In a public statement, Prime Minister Karki vowed to address the protesters’ demands for good governance and to end corruption. The focus on non-political appointments signals a shift away from the “musical chairs” of power-sharing among the main political parties that many young Nepalis believe has stalled the country’s development.
The new administration is tasked with navigating a difficult political and economic landscape. Nepal faces high youth unemployment, and millions of young people have left the country to find work abroad. The widespread anger over corruption and nepotism, which fueled the recent protests, has created an urgent need for accountability and transparency.
The appointment of a new government marks the end of a tumultuous week for Nepal, but it is also the beginning of a crucial period of transition. The new administration has the formidable task of proving it can deliver on its promises and lead the country toward a more stable and prosperous future.
