Nepal begins to settle as curfew lifted and soldiers retreat after new PM sworn in

After days of violent protests against corruption, Nepal’s capital city Kathmandu is slowly coming back to normal life. On Friday, former chief justice Sushila Karki was sworn in as the country’s interim prime minister. Her appointment has given people some hope for a cleaner and more transparent government.

The unrest had brought the nation to a standstill. Protesters burned down parliament, demanded an end to corruption, and forced former prime minister KP Sharma Oli to resign. At least 51 people lost their lives during the violence, which was the worst unrest since the end of the civil war and monarchy in 2008.

Now, with a new leader in charge, curfew restrictions have been lifted, soldiers are pulling back, and markets, temples, and roads are once again open. Elections have been scheduled for March 5, 2026, to decide the next permanent government.

People welcome Nepal’s first woman prime minister

Sushila Karki, 73, is Nepal’s first woman prime minister. She earlier served as the country’s chief justice and is respected for her honesty. Many people believe she will take strong steps against corruption.

“We think that our former chief justice will fight against corruption and work for good governance,” said Suraj Bhattarai, a 51-year-old social worker in Kathmandu. Young people also expressed hope. Durga Magar, 23, who works in a shop, said the main issue for the youth was corruption. “It doesn’t matter whether it is Gen Z or older leaders. Whoever can end corruption should take charge,” she said.

Her appointment was not just a political decision but also a demand from the youth-led protests. Many young activists had used the app Discord to campaign for her name. After discussions between army chief General Ashok Raj Sigdel, President Ram Chandra Paudel, and protest leaders, she was chosen to lead the interim government.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi congratulated Karki, saying New Delhi supports peace, progress, and prosperity in Nepal. Her appointment has also been praised as a shift away from the old political leaders like KP Sharma Oli, who was prime minister four times. Many Nepalis felt the older leaders were only switching seats without solving problems.

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Big challenges ahead for the new leader

Even though normal life is returning to the streets of Nepal, the challenges before the interim government are very serious. More than 12,500 prisoners escaped during the violent protests and are still missing. Ensuring public safety and capturing these fugitives will be an urgent task.

Another huge challenge will be fighting corruption, which was the main reason behind the protests. People want quick and visible action to clean up the system. If the interim government fails to show results, public anger could rise again.

Businessman Shikhar Bajracharya, 32, said Nepal needed fresh leadership. “The old leaders were playing musical chairs, taking turns to sit in power. There was no opportunity for younger people to enter politics. Now, at least we are seeing change,” he said.

For many Nepalis, Karki’s appointment is a chance to move forward. However, the road will not be easy. She will have to balance the expectations of the youth, restore trust in government, and prepare the country for elections in March 2026.

The next few months will decide whether Nepal can finally turn away from corruption and political instability or if it will continue to face the same struggles. For now, people are enjoying the return of peace — markets are open, families are visiting temples, and life is slowly returning to normal.