Kathmandu [Nepal], July 15 – Nepal’s government is preparing to appoint ambassadors to 17 countries where diplomatic posts remain vacant but the nomination process has stalled after five recommended candidates were held at the Office of the Prime Minister.
Foreign Minister Shishir Khanal last week recommended five joint secretaries from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for ambassadorial appointments. The nominees are Kumar Kharel, Bhrigu Dhungana, Ganesh Dhakal, Dilip Paudel and Bishnu Gautam.
Although the recommendations were forwarded by the foreign minister, the list has not progressed after reaching the Prime Minister’s Office, delaying the next stage of the appointment process. The government has not publicly explained why the recommendations remain pending.
Among the five nominees Dhungana and Dhakal have previously served as ambassadors bringing prior diplomatic experience to the proposed appointments.
The government is working to fill ambassadorial vacancies in 17 countries as it seeks to strengthen Nepal’s diplomatic representation abroad. Several overseas missions have remained without ambassadors with senior diplomats or chargé d’affaires overseeing embassy operations in the interim.
Under Nepal’s appointment process, ambassadorial nominees are recommended by the government before moving through the required constitutional procedures ahead of formal appointment.
The delay affecting the five foreign ministry officials comes as Kathmandu continues efforts to complete the broader round of diplomatic postings. It remains unclear when the Prime Minister’s Office will clear the recommendations or whether any changes will be made to the proposed list before the appointments move forward.
The government has not announced a timeline for filling all 17 vacant ambassadorial positions.
