Nepal's president appoints former chief justice as interim premier and first woman leader
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APTOPIX Nepal Protest Mourners pay their last respects to Assistant Sub-Inspector officer Milan Raya, who was killed during anti-corruption protests that erupted after a social media ban was later revoked is prepared for cremation at Pashupatinath in Kathmandu, Nepal, Friday, Sept. 12, 2025. (AP Photo/Niranjan Shrestha) (Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.) (Niranjan Shrestha/AP)
Nepal Protest Wife of Assistant Sub-Inspector Milan Raya, who was killed during anti-corruption protests that erupted after a social media ban that was later revoked, pays her last respect during his cremation at Pashupatinath in Kathmandu, Nepal, Friday, Sept. 12, 2025. (AP Photo/Niranjan Shrestha) (Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.) (Niranjan Shrestha/AP)
CORRECTION APTOPIX Nepal Protest CORRECTS SPELLING OF NAME TO SHREEYAM, INSTEAD OF SHEEHAM - The father of Shreeyam Chaulagain, 19, who was killed during an anti-corruption protest that erupted after a social media ban, which has since been revoked, pays his last respects before his son's cremation at Pashupatinath, Kathmandu, Nepal, Friday, Sept. 12, 2025. (AP Photo/Niranjan Shrestha) (Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.) (Niranjan Shrestha/AP)
KATHMANDU, Nepal (AP) — Nepal 's president on Friday appointed former Supreme Court Chief Justice Sushila Karki as interim prime minister and the first woman to head the Himalayan nation's government, following fiery protests that collapsed the previous administration.
Karki, a popular figure when serving as the court's only female chief justice in 2016 and 2017, was to be sworn in later Friday. The appointment was announced by President Ram Chandra Poudel's spokesman Kiran Pokhrel.
Street demonstrations starting Monday in Kathmandu over a social media ban turned violent, with protesters attacking government buildings and police opening fire. Though the ban was rescinded, the unrest continued over a broad range of grievances, with tens of thousands of protesters attacking and burning the parliament, the presidential residence and private businesses.
The violence prompted Prime Minister Khadga Prasad Oli to resign on Tuesday and flee his official residence. Nepal’s army took control of the capital Tuesday night, and initiated negotiations among the protesters, army and president over an interim government.
Violence over the past week left at least 51 people dead.
Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.
