New Nepal Interim Ministers Sworn in After Protests
Caption: PHOTO COURTESY
BY AFP
Nepal's new interim prime minister unveiled her first ministers on Monday, as the Himalayan nation seeks to restore order after deadly youth-led anti-corruption protests that ousted the previous government.
Under an outdoor awning and against the backdrop of the fire-damaged presidential office, President Ram Chandra Paudel gave the oath of office to three key ministers in a ceremony broadcast on television.
Protests, sparked by a ban on social media and feeding into long-standing economic woes, began on September 8 and quickly escalated, with parliament and key government buildings set ablaze.
It was the worst unrest since the end of a decade-long civil war and the abolition of the monarchy in 2008.
At least 72 people were killed in two days of protests, with 191 still recovering in hospital, according to government figures.
Prime Minister Sushila Karki, the 73-year-old former chief justice, has been tasked with addressing protester demands for a corruption-free future ahead of elections in March.
Om Prakash Aryal, an advocate known for his cases tackling corruption, governance, and human rights, takes the critical home minister post, as well as law, justice, and parliamentary affairs.
Kulman Ghising, the former director of the Nepal Electricity Authority -- who is widely credited with ending the country's long-standing load-shedding problem -- has the energy, infrastructure, transport, and urban development portfolios.
Rameshwor Khanal, a former finance secretary and a respected economist, was handed the key finance post, a challenging task to tackle the unemployment woes that drove the uprising
Tags: Sushila Karki, Ram Chandra Paudel Editor's Pick
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Selestine Nyongesa
An editor at Signs Tv
Experienced and versatile writer, dedicated to using my exceptional writing and editing skills to inform and advocate. My work focuses on educating and entertaining readers on a range of topics, with a particular expertise in matters of disability.
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