Nepal Army Resumes Talks With Protesters to Select Interim Leader After Oli’s Ouster

World

Nepal’s army has resumed talks with protesters to appoint an interim leader for the country, following days of deadly unrest that led to the removal of Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli, an army spokesperson confirmed on Thursday.

Soldiers continued to patrol the streets of Kathmandu for a second day as the capital remained tense but calm after the worst protests in decades. The unrest, initially sparked by a controversial social media ban, escalated into nationwide demonstrations before authorities rolled back the restrictions.

President Ramchandra Paudel said he was working to restore stability, urging calm while stressing a solution was being sought within constitutional boundaries.

“I am consulting and making every effort to find a way out of the current difficult situation in the country within the constitutional framework,” Paudel said in a statement. “I appeal to all parties to be confident that a solution to the problem is being sought as soon as possible to address the demands of the protesting citizens.”

Army spokesperson Raja Ram Basnet told Reuters that “initial talks are on and would continue today,” referring to negotiations on selecting an interim prime minister. “We are trying to normalise the situation slowly,” he added.

Former Chief Justice Sushila Karki, 73, has emerged as the frontrunner for the role. Karki, Nepal’s first female chief justice, has reportedly given her consent, though sources familiar with the matter said efforts were underway to identify a constitutional path for her appointment.

Despite wide support for Karki, including from Kathmandu Mayor Balen Shah and several protest leaders, divisions remain within the protest camp as well as among mainstream parties. Some demonstrators are calling for unity before a final decision is made.

KP Khanal, one of the youth activists at the forefront of the protests, said many young demonstrators not included in the formal talks are watching developments cautiously.

Nepal’s political future remains uncertain as talks continue amid lingering tensions on the streets.