Nepal has appointed Sushila Karki as its interim prime minister, marking a historic milestone as the country's first female head of government.
The 73-year-old former Chief Justice was sworn in on Friday by President Ramchandra Poudel at the presidential residence, with the ceremony broadcast on state television.
This move comes in the aftermath of deadly protests that erupted earlier in the week, resulting in at least 51 deaths, over 1,300 injuries, and the escape of thousands of prisoners from jails across the nation.
The protests began on Monday, triggered by opposition to a government ban on social media, alongside widespread grievances over corruption and poor governance.
Tens of thousands of young demonstrators, mostly under 30, took to the streets in Kathmandu and other areas.
Police response involved live ammunition, leading to 21 civilian deaths on that day alone — the bloodiest in Nepal's protest history.
By Tuesday, the situation escalated dramatically as protesters set fire to parliament buildings and the residences of Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli, the president, and other officials.
The capital resembled a war zone, prompting Oli—serving his fourth term and criticized for authoritarianism and corruption—to resign after being airlifted out by the military.
The army imposed a curfew and took control of the streets to restore order.
Prison breaks compounded the chaos, with over 13,500 inmates escaping, though some were recaptured, leaving about 12,533 at large.
Among the dead were 21 protesters, nine prisoners killed in clashes with security forces, three police officers, and 18 others.
Fugitives attempted to flee to India, where border forces apprehended scores.
The army recovered more than 100 looted guns, including automatic rifles wielded by some protesters.
Karki, who served as Nepal's first female Chief Justice in 2016, earned respect for her tough stance on corruption through high-profile judgments against ministers and senior police.
After retirement, she became a vocal civil society figure criticizing political malpractices.
Nominated by representatives of the self-described Gen Z protesters — who lacked initial organization but were invited to negotiations by the president and army chief — she gained backing from youth groups demanding an end to corruption.
Initially, established political parties resisted dissolving parliament, a step needed for Karki's appointment since she is not a parliament member.
However, after Army Chief Ashok Raj Sigdel warned of a potential state of emergency, leaders agreed on Friday to dissolve the body.
Karki, seen as an anticorruption voice acceptable to Gen Z, will lead a council of ministers until fresh elections.
Signs of stabilization emerged as shops reopened and streets filled with cars, though some roads remained blocked and fewer soldiers patrolled.
Authorities began releasing bodies of the deceased to families, with one relative, Karuna Budhathoki, recounting her 23-year-old nephew's determination to protest despite warnings, only to arrive dead at the hospital.
Nepal, situated between India and China, has faced ongoing political and economic instability since abolishing its monarchy in 2008, exacerbated by job shortages driving millions abroad for work.
While Karki's leadership offers hope, the nation braces for prolonged uncertainty as calls grow for probes into corruption under Oli and inquiries into protest deaths.