Nepal army resumes talks with protesters on interim leadership after deadly unrest
Nepal’s army has resumed negotiations with protesters to select an interim leader for the Himalayan nation, following violent demonstrations that toppled Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli’s government earlier this week.
Soldiers continued to patrol the largely quiet streets of Kathmandu on Thursday, maintaining curfew orders after days of unrest sparked by a government ban on social media, later reversed amid deadly clashes. The violence, described as the country’s worst in decades, has left dozens dead and hundreds injured.
President Ramchandra Paudel on Thursday appealed for calm, pledging to work within the constitutional framework to resolve the crisis. “I am consulting and making every effort to find a way out of the current difficult situation in the country,” Paudel said in a statement, urging citizens to “practice restraint and cooperate to maintain peace and order.”
Army spokesperson Raja Ram Basnet confirmed to Reuters that discussions with protest leaders over an interim administration were ongoing. “Initial talks are on and would continue today,” he said, adding that the military was “trying to normalise the situation slowly.”
The crisis erupted after authorities imposed a short-lived social media blackout on Monday, triggering mass demonstrations that escalated into violent attacks on government buildings. The army has since assumed a central role in restoring order and shaping the next phase of Nepal’s leadership transition.
