Kathmandu clashes: On Thursday groups of young people clashed near Kathmandu’s Sundhara. The dispute came as different factions tried to present themselves as the rightful leaders of the new interim government following the resignation of Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli.
Nepal is currently without a functioning civilian government. After days of violent ‘Gen Z’ protests that shook the country on September 8, the Nepal Army has stepped in to take command.
The protests have already left 34 people dead and about 1,000 injured.
On Wednesday, the army headquarters in Jangi Adda asked youth groups to submit the names and phone numbers of their chosen leaders. The announcement, made with loudspeakers at the gate, invited representatives to return the next morning for talks.
But when different groups arrived with their own candidates, they refused to accept each other’s recommendations. The arguments quickly turned into physical clashes near Sundhara.
The dispute is mainly about who should lead the interim government. Some groups have proposed names such as former Chief Justice Sushila Karki, former Managing Director of Nepal Electricity Authority Kulman Ghising, and Dharan Mayor Harka Sampang. None of the sides appear ready to compromise.
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The army had earlier prevented large crowds from gathering directly outside its headquarters. This forced groups of young people to assemble at Sundhara instead, where Thursday’s confrontations broke out.
Meanwhile, daily life in the capital remains under heavy restrictions. A curfew is still in place in parts of Kathmandu Valley, though some measures have been relaxed. Public transport is limited, and shops are opening only for a few hours.
Youth groups, emboldened by the recent protests, are determined to have a say in shaping the country’s leadership. But without unity among them, the road to stability looks difficult.