Frequent ambassador changes raise concerns over Nepal’s diplomatic image

On Thursday, October 16, the government decided to recall ambassadors who were politically appointed during the tenure of former Prime Minister K.P. Sharma Oli. The ambassadors to China, Germany, Israel, Qatar, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Spain, the United Kingdom, the United States, and Japan have been instructed to return to Nepal by November 6.

Although the official tenure of an ambassador is four years, Nepali ambassadors rarely get to complete their full term. With each change in government, it has become common practice to replace ambassadors. The recent decision is yet another example of this trend. Most of the recalled ambassadors were appointed on July 31, 2024. While a government’s tenure in Nepal is supposed to be five years, none has completed a full term yet.