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Nepal | South Asia
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Nepal's Faltering Peace Process
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Nepal’s April 2008 constituent assembly (CA) elections were a major step forward in the peace process, yet significant challenges still remain. The CA elections were largely peaceful and well managed, eventually taking place after two previous postponements. The outcome reshaped Nepal’s political landscape, with the Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist), CPN(M), winning twice as many seats as its nearest rival, the Nepali Congress (NC). The Communist Party of Nepal (Unified Marxist-Leninist), UML, came third, followed by the Madhesi Janadhikar Forum (MJF), whose strong showing underlined the emergence of parties representing Madhesi groups in the Tarai plains as important political actors. In its first sitting in May 2008, the CA ended the 240-year old monarchy and established the Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal. A Maoist-led government, headed by Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal “Prachanda”, was finally formed in August 2008. The coalition included the UML and MJF but the NC refused to join.

Despite these steps forward, the peace process now faces severe tests. The multiparty consensus on which it was based has frayed. The Maoists have not completed the transition to non-violent, pluralist politics and the old parties remain unrepresentative and out of touch with voters. The CA, beset by delays, will find it hard to meet the May 2010 deadline for writing the new constitution. Progress on reforming the security sector, including the integration and rehabilitation of former Maoist fighters, has been slow and characterised by mutual distrust. The continuing existence of two standing armies – the Nepal Army and the Maoist People’s Liberation Army – is inherently destabilising. UN monitoring of both armies is due to end by July 2009; its mission in Nepal, UNMIN, has been extended three times but it has been downsized and has no political mandate.

Several other issues remain unresolved. There has been no movement towards returning land seized during the conflict, nor to tackling wider land reform issues. Despite the well-observed ceasefire, the state of public security and rule of law is tenuous, especially in central and eastern Tarai districts. Broader issues of building an inclusive state and fulfilling human rights commitments (particularly prosecution for crimes committed during the conflict) have yet to be addressed. The peace process is far from finished and the international community must remain actively involved.

Crisis Group covers Nepal from our Kathmandu office, and recent reporting has focused on Nepal’s new political landscape and challenges facing the new republic, security sector reform, and international and regional perspectives on Nepal. Crisis Group will continue to highlight potential obstacles to the peace process, while focusing on ways in which national and international actors can assist in building a lasting peace.

Our Nepal reports are listed below, starting with the most recent. You can also search for relevant reports using the search box in the top right hand side of this page.

 Crisis Group Podcast: "Nepal: The Risks for the Peace Process" (13 August 2009)

Many of our reports have also been translated into Nepali, they are available here: http://www.crisisgroup.org/nepali.

Articles, op-eds, speeches and media releases can be found under the media section.

Click here for a more detailed history of the country/conflict.


  Visit our Nepal advocacy page.


Recent reports & briefings


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