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Hun Sen

The latest news on Hun Sen, Cambodian politician and President of the Senate of Cambodia, including political news and updates. <br />

Born

5 Aug 1952

Industry

Politics

Job Title

Politician

last updated:

4 December, 2024

Cambodia

Hun Manet may be Cambodia’s prime minister, but his dad still pulls the strings

Cambodia’s prime minister operates under the watchful eye of former leader Hun Sen, who remains a formidable force in Cambodian politics.

14 Oct 2024 - 1:39PMvideocam

China-Asean relations

Cambodia’s ‘most reliable friend’? China’s Wang Yi goes on the charm offensive

23 Apr 2024 - 4:35PMvideocam

Cambodia

Hun Sen becomes Cambodia’s Senate president, allowing him to step in for king

3 Apr 2024 - 3:35PM

Cambodia

Cambodia ex-PM Hun Sen returns to frontline politics for Senate seat

Becoming president of the Senate will allow Hun Sen to act as head of state when the king is overseas, a move seen as the Hun family’s further consolidation of power.

25 Feb 2024 - 3:15PMvideocam

Former Prime Minister Hun Sen shows a ballot paper as he votes at a polling station during the Senate election in Takhmao city, Kandal province, on Sunday. Photo: AFP

China-Asean relations

In Phnom Penh, Wang Yi shows support for Cambodia’s changing of the guard

Top Chinese diplomat says Beijing firmly supports Cambodia to safeguard national interests and national dignity and a greater role on world and regional stages.

14 Aug 2023 - 2:43PMvideocam

Cambodia

Cambodia’s king appoints Hun Sen’s son as new leader

The long-serving Cambodian strongman announced he was stepping down and handing power to eldest son Hun Manet days after winning a landslide victory in polls widely decried as a sham.

7 Aug 2023 - 4:39PMvideocam

Thailand election 2023

Thailand’s Thaksin spotted at Cambodian leader Hun Sen’s birthday party

Just a day earlier the former prime minister had said he would delay plans to return to Thailand following years of self-imposed exile.

6 Aug 2023 - 10:09PM

Cambodia

Cambodia confirms PM Hun Sen’s party winner after final vote tally

The National Election Committee officially announced that the Cambodian People’s Party – which is now led by Hun Manet, the son of long-serving Prime Minister Hun Sen – won 120 of 125 seats in the July general election.

5 Aug 2023 - 7:05PMvideocam

Books and literature

Silenced by Hun Sen’s regime, famed Cambodian poet now slaves at noodle cart

Poet and former monk Chin Meas could have been a Cambodian national treasure but for the Hun Sen regime. Now he ekes out a living working a noodle cart, but still finds ways to express himself.

30 Jul 2023 - 7:45AM

Cambodia

Cambodia’s Hun Sen resigns as prime minister after 38 years

The 70-year-old Hun Sen has led Cambodia with an iron fist for nearly four decades. He said on Wednesday he will resign and hand power to his eldest son Hun Manet.

26 Jul 2023 - 5:52PMvideocam

Cambodia

‘No hope’ for Cambodians as poll walkover hands Hun Sen succession moment

As Cambodia’s strongman prime minister prepares to hand power to his son, observers warn that much of the supposed public support for them is actually a mirage.

26 Jul 2023 - 3:44PMvideocam

Cambodia

Cambodia PM Hun Sen’s party claims election victory, says son wins seat

Party says long-serving leader Hun Sen’s son and anointed successor, Hun Manet, has won a National Assembly seat, making him eligible to become premier if chosen by the house.

23 Jul 2023 - 10:47PMvideocam

Cambodia

Will Hun Sen’s US-educated son spell change for China-friendly Cambodia?

US graduate Hun Manet has given rise to hope from some in the West that he might bring political change, as his autocratic father mulls handing over power.

22 Jul 2023 - 1:30PMvideocam

Cambodia

Cambodia’s Hun Sen poised to extend 38-year rule, without his favoured Facebook

He’ll be ‘sorely missing’ his 14 million followers on Facebook, a platform he often used to spread vitriol, after quitting over a row with Meta.

16 Jul 2023 - 2:11PMvideocam

Without Facebook, Hun Sen’s daily deluge of hectoring speeches is not reaching his 14 million former followers on the platform. Photo: Kyodo

Cambodia

What next for Cambodia’s US ties, China trade after Hun Sen’s certain poll win?

Washington’s distrust of Hun Sen and concerns about a possible Chinese military presence in Cambodia have affected Phnom Penh’s attempts to improve ties.

15 Jul 2023 - 9:30AMvideocam

Cambodia

UN urges release of ‘Lady Liberty’ Cambodian-American human rights lawyer who criticised PM

Theary Seng was convicted of conspiracy to commit treason, but was in reality punished for ‘making two posts on Facebook critical of [Prime Minister] Hun Sen,’ UN says.

13 Jul 2023 - 5:49PMvideocam

Cambodia

Cambodia urges Ukraine to learn from its ‘painful’ US cluster-bomb experience

Long-time Cambodian leader Hun Sen implored Ukraine not to use cluster munitions, citing how his country had yet to rid itself of the bombs dropped on it by the US more than half a century ago, which have left tens of thousands maimed or killed.

10 Jul 2023 - 1:05PM

Cambodia

Cambodian PM gives up favourite Facebook for Telegram as potential ban looms

The long-serving prime minister said he will no longer upload to Facebook where he has 14 million followers.

29 Jun 2023 - 10:56AMvideocam

Cambodia

Top Cambodian party challenging Hun Sen’s rule denied election registration

The Candlelight Party said it will file an official complaint asking the Constitutional Council to judge the election commission’s ruling.

16 May 2023 - 5:24PM

Cambodia

Kem Sokha’s jailing clears succession path for Hun Sen’s son, analysts say

Harsh length of Cambodian opposition leader Kem Sokha’s 27-year jail term sends ‘clear, intimidating message’ to opposition ahead of elections in summer.

7 Mar 2023 - 7:16PMvideocam

Cambodia

Cambodia’s Hun Sen orders shutdown of independent media outlet

Online outlet Voice of Democracy reported on February 9 that Hun Sen’s eldest son, Lieutenant General Hun Manet, had approved financial aid to Turkey.

13 Feb 2023 - 10:45PMvideocam

Hun Sen (front row, right) has also told foreign governments that funded the news outlet to transfer the money to other countries or back into their own coffers. Photo: Xinhua

Asean

Cambodia’s Hun Sen wants ‘back in Beijing’s orbit’ amid US balancing act

Besides seeking financial support for high-speed rail projects, Hun Sen’s three-day visit to China is aimed at easing China’s concerns about Cambodia’s growing ties with the United States, experts said.

6 Feb 2023 - 8:30AM

Cambodia’s Prime Minister Hun Sen (L) linking arms with China’s Foreign Minister Wang Yi (R) during a meeting at the Peace Palace in Phnom Penh in August 2022. Photo: Cambodia’s government cabinet/Handout via AFP/File

Diplomacy

Cambodia’s Hun Sen to head to China in search of high-speed rail support

Beijing must be cautious about Phnom Penh improving ties with Tokyo and Washington, analyst says.

15 Jan 2023 - 8:41PMvideocam

Cambodia

Cambodian PM Hun Sen orders Mekong safe zones to save rare dolphins

There will be an ‘absolute ban’ on all fishing in protection zones for Irrawaddy dolphins, which currently number around only 90 due to habitat loss and destructive fishing practices.

3 Jan 2023 - 7:00AM

Cambodia

Watch-obsessed Cambodian PM to give luxury timepieces as Asean summit gifts

Hun Sen said 25 watches featuring sophisticated tourbillon mechanism have been ‘prepared and assembled by pure Cambodian technicians’.

10 Nov 2022 - 3:25PMvideocam

Cambodia

Japan hosts Cambodian PM’s son amid bid to ‘balance China’s influence’

Hun Manet, the son of Hun Sen, is set to be Cambodia’s future leader. Tokyo has positioned itself as a ‘benevolent ally’ of Phnom Penh, which is heavily reliant on Beijing.

15 Feb 2022 - 12:14PM

Cambodia’s Prime Minister Hun Sen (L) poses with his son Hun Manet during a ceremony at a military base in Phnom Penh. - Cambodia’ in 2009.
Photo: AFP/TANG CHHIN Sothy

Myanmar

Cambodia’s Hun Sen sorry for mix-up over Australian academic’s release

Former Aung San Suu Kyi adviser Sean Turnell was arrested in Myanmar last February days after the military coup. Hun Sen said on Sunday that the Australian academic had been released at his request, but later apologised after a day of confusion.

8 Feb 2022 - 2:30PM

Asean

Opinion | Hun Sen’s ‘cowboy diplomacy’ risks returning Asean to crisis and division

Hun Sen’s return as Asean chair has already sparked controversy after he unilaterally lifted sanctions against the Myanmar junta. Given his previous tenure, he is likely to make full use of his powers to shape Asean’s priorities to fit China’s preferences.

5 Feb 2022 - 1:00AMvideocam

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