Peace in Nepal

last updated 8 January 2015

Kathmandu, Nepal

A 10-year civil war officially ended this week, when Maoist rebels signed a peace treaty with the Nepalese government. Under the deal, the rebels will join a transitional government and the U.N. will monitor their stores of weapons. “This moment marks the end of the 238-year-old feudal system,” said Maoist leader Prachanda, who goes by just one name. “Our party will work with new responsibility and new vigor to make a new Nepal.” The two sides found common ground six months ago, when they worked together to coordinate the huge protests that forced King Gyanendra to restore the parliament. Since then, they’ve been observing a cease-fire. The war killed some 13,000 people.