Nepal has appointed its former chief justice, Sushila Karki, as interim prime minister following a wave of violent protests that forced out the government earlier this week.

Karki, 73, who made history as Nepal’s first female chief justice, will officially take the oath of office on Friday evening, according to the president’s office. She is expected to form a cabinet shortly after her swearing-in.

The decision comes after days of unrest in the Himalayan nation, where demonstrations led by young anti-corruption activists spiraled into bloodshed. Security forces’ attempts to suppress the rallies triggered the deadliest violence since the end of Nepal’s civil war in 2006 and the abolition of the monarchy two years later. At least 51 people lost their lives.

Former prime minister KP Sharma Oli resigned on Tuesday and has not been seen publicly since. His departure left a power vacuum that the military attempted to manage by imposing curfews and restoring order in major cities.

Army chief General Ashok Raj Sigdel and President Ram Chandra Paudel have since held negotiations with leaders of the youth-led “Gen Z” protest movement, which threw its support behind Karki’s appointment.

“This feels like a turning point—the uncertainty is finally over,” said Amrita Ban, one of the demonstrators.

Economic struggles were also at the heart of the unrest. Official figures show that one in five Nepalis between 15 and 24 years old are unemployed, while average incomes remain among the lowest in South Asia.

Karki’s leadership will guide Nepal through its transitional period, though questions remain about how quickly stability can be restored and whether the demands of the protesters will be fully addressed.