Nepal’s newly appointed interim prime minister, Sushila Karki, pledged Sunday to heed the demands of youth protesters and tackle corruption as she took office following mass demonstrations that toppled her predecessor.

Karki, 73, a former chief justice, has been tasked with restoring order and addressing the protesters’ call for a corruption-free future ahead of elections scheduled for six months from now.

Youth-Led Protests Ignite Violence
The protests erupted Monday after a social media ban and quickly escalated, with parliament and government buildings set ablaze. The unrest reflects long-standing economic struggles in the Himalayan nation, where GDP per capita is $1,447 and one in five young people aged 15-24 is unemployed, according to the World Bank.

“We have to work according to the thinking of the Gen Z generation,” Karki said in her first public remarks since taking office Friday. “What this group is demanding is the end of corruption, good governance, and economic equality. You and I have to be determined to fulfill that.”

Remembering the Fallen
Karki observed a minute of silence Sunday for those killed in the unrest before meetings at Singha Durbar, the government complex that saw several buildings set on fire during the protests. At least 72 people were killed and 191 injured over two days, the government said, making it the deadliest unrest since Nepal’s civil war ended and the monarchy was abolished in 2008.

A Leader ‘From the Streets’
Her appointment followed negotiations led by Army Chief General Ashok Raj Sigdel and President Ram Chandra Paudel, including consultations with representatives of the youth-led “Gen Z” movement. Karki herself acknowledged that her leadership came at the urging of protesters. “The situation that I have come in, I have not wished to come here. My name was brought from the streets,” she said.

Parliament has been dissolved, and elections are scheduled for March 5, 2026. Karki promised a temporary administration. “We will not stay here more than six months in any situation. We will complete our responsibilities and pledge to hand over to the next parliament and ministers,” she said.

Security Concerns Remain
Authorities are gradually scaling back a large military presence on the streets, but more than 12,500 prisoners who escaped during the unrest remain at large, posing a major security challenge.

Regional Support and Global Attention
Regional powers India and China have welcomed Karki’s appointment. Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed support for “peace, progress, and prosperity” in Nepal, while Beijing’s foreign ministry said it hoped to “push China-Nepal relations steadily forward.” The Dalai Lama also extended his wishes for Karki’s success in meeting the aspirations of the Nepalese people during these “challenging times.”