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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

Thai Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra inspects a bomb shelter, built by villagers, during a trip to the Kap Choeng border district on Wednesday. Photo: Thai Government Handout/EPA-EFE

Thailand

Outcome of Thailand-Cambodia border talks in the balance amid ‘trust deficit’

Bangkok’s resistance to Phnom Penh’s attempts to ‘internationalise’ the border dispute is likely to affect the meeting, experts say.

12 Jun 2025 - 5:50PM

Thailand

Thailand and Cambodia face rising tensions over Emerald Triangle dispute

6 Jun 2025 - 6:00PM

Cambodia

Cambodia to lodge ICJ complaint over border dispute with Thailand

2 Jun 2025 - 7:45PM

Asean

‘Concerned’ Asean leaders fail to issue fresh condemnation of Myanmar’s junta

Southeast Asia’s leaders reaffirm the bloc’s backing of a so-called five-point consensus as a road map for resolving Myanmar’s crisis.

27 May 2025 - 11:26PM

Southeast Asian leaders pose for a family photo at the Asean summit in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, on Monday. Photo: EPA-EFE

Cambodia

Cambodia is home to world’s most powerful criminal network: report

The network’s illegal activities threaten global economic and political stability, says Jacob Sims, a transnational crime expert.

26 May 2025 - 3:55PMvideocam

Cambodia

Cambodia’s Hun Sen lauds Trump gutting US-funded media outlets

Voice of America and other US-funded broadcasters getting the cut have long been critical of Cambodia’s influential former strongman.

18 Mar 2025 - 4:11PMvideocam

Cambodia

4 people die in Cambodia in Lunar New Year gift crush

The crowd had gathered at a local tycoon’s home to receive Lunar New Year red envelopes filled with money.

23 Jan 2025 - 5:01PM

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

Wang Yi vows China will continue to invest more in Cambodian infrastructure and promote production capacity cooperation: foreign ministry.

23 Apr 2024 - 4:35PMvideocam

Cambodia

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

The former Cambodian leader took over the country’s second-highest ceremonial role less than a year after handing power to his son. The position allows him to act as acting head of state when the king is overseas.

3 Apr 2024 - 3:35PM

Hun Sen pictured on Wednesday upon his arrival at the Senate building in Phnom Penh. Photo: AFP

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

Hun Manet, son of Hun Sen, now leads the ruling Cambodian People’s Party. Photo: Reuters

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

Candlelight Party’s supporters take part in an election campaign rally in Phnom Penh. File photo: Reuters

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

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