By Atoyebi Nike
Nepal’s President Ramchandra Paudel on Thursday said he was working to end the political crisis that has shaken the Himalayan nation following violent protests that ousted Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli earlier this week.
“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. He urged citizens to remain patient, stressing that efforts were ongoing to address protesters’ demands.
Oli, a 73-year-old four-time prime minister, resigned on Tuesday after days of unrest. His current location remains unknown. Under Nepal’s constitution, the 80-year-old president is required to invite the leader of the largest parliamentary party to form a new government.
The military, led by General Ashok Raj Sigdel, has been drawn into the crisis, holding talks with political leaders and representatives of the youth-led “Gen Z” protest movement. Authorities imposed a nationwide curfew after violent demonstrations the worst in two decades set the parliament building on fire and left several people dead.
Calling for calm, Paudel urged Nepalis to “practice restraint and cooperate to maintain peace and order in the country.”
