The volatile political situation in Nepal was the largest obstacle to business activities in 2012, according to the majority of businesses surveyed as part of a study by the Small Arms Survey’s Nepal Armed Violence Assessment (NAVA) project.  Direct losses from crime are relatively small compared to the indirect costs of instability. 

When Nepal’s civil war ended in 2006, the country had changed fundamentally. Legacies of the war included the end of the monarchy and the accommodation of Maoist rebels (Unified Communist Party of Nepal–Maoist, UCPN-M), who were integrated into the government. A total of 1,462 Maoists (including 71 officers) were selected for integration into the Nepal Army (Pun, 2012). Like many post-conflict societies, Nepal is struggling to re-establish political stability and cope with post-conflict violence.

In the wake of a decade-long civil war that claimed more than 13,000 lives, Nepal’s uneasy peace has been plagued by uncertainties, tied to the volatile political environment, the gridlocks over the drafting of the new constitution, and the reported proliferation of criminal activities. This rapid succession of changes has raised new questions about the overall security situation in the country.

The Missing Middle: Examining the Armed Group Phenomenon in Nepal analyses the phenomenon of armed groups in Nepal. It examines their history, their initial proliferation following the signing of the Comprehensive Peace Accord (CPA), their development and overlap with other societal groups, the reasons behind their recent decline, and their relationship to the state.

Also available in NEPALI.

In the wake of a decade-long civil war that claimed more than 13,000 lives, Nepal’s uneasy peace has been plagued by uncertainties, tied to the volatile political environment, the gridlocks over the drafting of the new constitution, and the reported proliferation of criminal activities. This rapid succession of changes has raised new questions about the overall security situation in the country.