Hun Sen facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
His Excellency
Samdech Akka Moha Sena Padei Techo Hun Sen
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| ហ៊ុន សែន | |
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Hun Sen in 2022
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| 4th President of the Senate | |
| Assumed office 3 April 2024 |
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| Monarch | Norodom Sihamoni |
| Vice President | Prak Sokhonn Ouch Borith Thun Vathana |
| Preceded by | Say Chhum |
| Prime Minister of Cambodia | |
| In office 30 November 1998 – 22 August 2023 |
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| Monarch |
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| Deputy |
See list
Sar Kheng
Hor Namhong (2004–2023) Tea Banh (2004–2023) Bin Chhin (2007–2023) Yim Chhaily (2008–2023) Men Sam An (2008–2023) Ke Kim Yan (2009–2023) Prak Sokhonn (2018–2023) Aun Pornmoniroth (2018–2023) Chea Sophara (2018–2023) |
| Preceded by | Ung Huot (as First Prime Minister) |
| Succeeded by | Hun Manet |
| In office 14 January 1985 – 2 July 1993 Acting: 26 December 1984 – 14 January 1985 |
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| President |
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| Deputy |
See list
Himself
(1984–1985) Bou Thang (1984–1992) Chea Soth (1984–1992) Sar Kheng (1984–1992) |
| Preceded by | Chan Sy (as Prime Minister of the People's Republic of Kampuchea) |
| Succeeded by | Norodom Ranariddh (as First Prime Minister of Cambodia) |
| Second Prime Minister of Cambodia | |
| In office 2 July 1993 – 30 November 1998 |
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| Monarch | Norodom Sihanouk |
| Deputy | Sar Kheng |
| First Prime Minister |
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| Preceded by | Office restored |
| Succeeded by | Himself (as Prime Minister) |
| President of the Cambodian People's Party | |
| Assumed office 20 June 2015 |
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| Vice President |
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| Preceded by | Chea Sim |
| Chairman of the Supreme Advisory Council of the King of Cambodia | |
| Assumed office 22 August 2023 |
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| Monarch | Norodom Sihamoni |
| Minister of Foreign Affairs | |
| In office 1988–1990 |
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| Prime Minister | Himself |
| Preceded by | Kong Korm |
| Succeeded by | Hor Namhong |
| In office 8 January 1979 – December 1986 |
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| Prime Minister |
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| Preceded by | Ieng Sary |
| Succeeded by | Kong Korm |
| Deputy Prime Minister of the People's Republic of Kampuchea | |
| In office 1981–1985 |
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| President | Heng Samrin |
| Prime Minister |
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| Member of the National Assembly | |
| In office 14 June 1993 – 2 April 2024 |
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| Constituency | Kampong Cham (1993–1998) Kandal (1998–2024) |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Hun Bunal
5 August 1952 Peam Kaoh Sna, Cambodia, French Indochina |
| Political party | Cambodian People's Party |
| Spouse |
Bun Rany
(m. 1976) |
| Children | 6, including Manet, Manith, and Many |
| Parents | Hun Neang Dee Yon |
| Alma mater | (Vietnam) National Academy of Public Administration |
| Awards | Grand Order of National Merit |
| Signature |  |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance |  Khmer Rouge/Democratic Kampuchea People's Republic of Kampuchea State of Cambodia Cambodia |
| Branch/service | Khmer Rouge Kampuchean United Front for National Salvation/Kampuchean People's Revolutionary Army Cambodian People's Army Royal Cambodian Army |
| Years of service | 1970–1999 |
| Rank |  Five-Star General |
| Commands | Democratic Kampuchea – Eastern Region |
| Battles/wars | Cambodian Civil War (WIA) Cambodian-Vietnamese War |
Samdech Hun Sen (born 5 August 1952) is a Cambodian politician and former army general. He is currently the President of the Senate in Cambodia. Before this, he served as the Prime Minister of Cambodia for a long time, from 1985 to 1993 and again from 1998 to 2023. He is the longest-serving head of government in Cambodia's history.
Hun Sen leads the Cambodian People's Party (CPP), which has been in power since 1979. He became a member of the Senate in 2024. His full honorary title is Samdech Akka Moha Sena Padei Techo Hun Sen, which means "Lord Prime Minister and Supreme Military Commander Hun Sen."
Born as Hun Bunal, he changed his name to Hun Sen in 1972. He joined the Khmer Rouge as a soldier and fought in the Cambodian Civil War. Later, he left the Khmer Rouge in 1977 and joined forces with Vietnamese troops in the Cambodian–Vietnamese War. From 1979 to 1986, and again from 1987 to 1990, he was Cambodia's Foreign Minister. At 26, he was one of the youngest foreign ministers in the world.
Hun Sen became Prime Minister in January 1985. He held this role until 1993, after UN-backed elections. After some disagreements, he and Norodom Ranariddh shared the role of Prime Minister. In 1997, Hun Sen became the sole Prime Minister. From 1998 to 2023, he led the CPP to many election wins. During this time, Cambodia saw fast economic growth and development. After the 2023 election, he stepped down as Prime Minister, and his son, Hun Manet, took over. Hun Sen remains a powerful figure in Cambodian politics.
Contents
Early Life and Education
Hun Sen was born on 4 April 1951, in Peam Kaoh Sna, Kampong Cham. His birth name was Hun Bunal. He was the third of six children. His father, Hun Neang, was a former monk who joined the French resistance. His mother was Dee Yon.
Hun Sen's family had some land and lived comfortably. When he was 13, he left home to study at a monastic school in Phnom Penh. At this time, he changed his name to Ritthi Sen or simply Sen. He later earned a master's degree in public administration from the National Academy of Public Administration in Vietnam.
Military Career and Entering Politics
In 1970, when Lon Nol took power from Norodom Sihanouk, Hun Sen stopped his education. He joined the Khmer Rouge after Sihanouk asked people to join the fight. Hun Sen says he also wanted to fight after his hometown was bombed by U.S. planes. He claims he had no strong political ideas then. As a soldier, he changed his name again to Hun Samrach to hide his identity.
Two years later, he changed his name to Hun Sen. He said his previous name brought bad luck, as he was wounded many times. Hun Sen quickly rose through the military ranks. He fought during the fall of Phnom Penh, where he was injured and lost sight in one eye.
In Democratic Kampuchea, Hun Sen was a Battalion Commander. He was in charge of about 2000 men. His exact role in the Cambodian genocide is not fully clear, but he denies being involved in bad actions. He says he started disagreeing with the Khmer Rouge leaders from 1975 to 1977.
In 1977, during internal conflicts within the Khmer Rouge, Hun Sen and his soldiers went to Vietnam. When Vietnam prepared to invade Cambodia, Hun Sen became a leader in the Vietnamese-supported rebel army.
After the Khmer Rouge was defeated, Hun Sen became Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister in 1979. He was only 26 years old.
First Time as Prime Minister (1985–1993)
Hun Sen first became Prime Minister in January 1985. The National Assembly chose him to take over after Chan Sy passed away. As the leader of Cambodia, he was elected Chairman of the Council of Ministers and Prime Minister in 1985. During this time, he managed ongoing conflicts against various rebel groups.
Peace Talks and UN Involvement (1991–1993)
As Foreign Minister and then Prime Minister, Hun Sen played a part in the 1991 Paris Peace Accords. These talks helped bring peace to Cambodia and officially ended the Cambodian–Vietnamese War.
He remained Prime Minister during the time of the United Nations Transitional Authority in Cambodia (UNTAC). This lasted until the 1993 UN-supported elections. In these elections, the opposition party FUNCINPEC won most of the votes. Hun Sen and his party did not accept the results at first.
After talks, Norodom Ranariddh and Hun Sen agreed to both serve as Prime Ministers. Ranariddh was the First Prime Minister, and Hun Sen was the Second Prime Minister.
In 1997, the shared leadership became difficult due to disagreements between Ranariddh and Hun Sen. FUNCINPEC started talking with the remaining Khmer Rouge rebels. This could have changed the balance of power between the royalists and the CPP.
In response, Hun Sen took action in 1997. He replaced Ranariddh with Ung Huot as the First Prime Minister, while he remained the Second Prime Minister.
Prime Minister of Cambodia (1998–2023)
In the 1998 election, Hun Sen led the CPP to victory. They formed a government with FUNCINPEC.
The elections of July 2003 gave the CPP more seats. However, they did not have enough to form a government alone. A new CPP-FUNCINPEC government was formed in 2004. Norodom Ranariddh became head of the National Assembly, and Hun Sen became the sole Prime Minister.
Hun Sen has expressed views on investigations into crimes by former Khmer Rouge leaders.
Protests (2013–2014)
After the July 2013 elections, both Hun Sen and the opposition Cambodia National Rescue Party claimed they won. In August, Hun Sen continued to form a new government. Many Cambodians protested peacefully in New York City. They were against Hun Sen's use of military forces and his unwillingness to address voting issues.
In September 2013, one person died and others were hurt during protests in Phnom Penh. About 20,000 protesters gathered. Hun Sen stated he was legally elected and would not step down.
On 3 January 2014, police fired at protesters, killing 4 people and injuring more than 20. The United Nations and the US State Department spoke out against the violence.
Strengthening Power (2015–2023)
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On 10 June 2014, Hun Sen said he was healthy. He warned that if he were to die, the country could become unstable. He stated he was the only one who could control the army.
On 31 January 2017, the National Assembly voted to remove positions for opposition leaders. This was done to reduce the opposition party's influence. On 2 February 2017, Hun Sen stopped the opposition from asking questions to some government ministers. He also planned a change to the constitution. This change later led to the main opposition party being dissolved. Opposition leader Kem Sokha was arrested.
On 30 June 2018, Hun Sen appointed his second son, Hun Manet, to higher military roles. Some thought Manet might become Prime Minister in the future. Hun Sen said his son could become prime minister if elected.
The 2018 elections were seen by some as not truly fair, as the main opposition party had been dissolved.
Hun Sen stopped exiled opposition leaders from returning to Cambodia in November 2019. He ordered the military to "attack" them if they returned. He also threatened airlines that allowed them to board.
In 2020, the European Union paused a trade agreement with Cambodia. This was due to concerns about human rights under Hun Sen's government. Hun Sen called this move "biased" and "unfair."
During the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic, Hun Sen downplayed the risk of the virus. He did not immediately introduce strict measures. This was seen as a way to show support for China, a close ally. Cambodia later started putting in place preventative measures.
A new State of Emergency Law was created for COVID-19. This law gave Hun Sen more power to control movement and gatherings. It also allowed the government to take private property and enforce quarantines. This law was criticized by some for limiting human rights.
However, the government's efforts in vaccination were seen as successful by the public. A study showed that over 80% of people approved of the government's response.
On 10 July 2023, Hun Sen warned Ukraine about using cluster munitions. He said it would be very dangerous for Ukrainians for many years. He mentioned Cambodia's "painful experience" from the Vietnam War.
After the 23 July 2023 elections, the King confirmed that Hun Manet would become the new Prime Minister.
Land Issues
Hun Sen's government leased a large part of Cambodia's land, mostly to foreign investors. This happened from 2007–08. This action put over 150,000 Cambodians at risk of losing their homes. Some of these leased areas were protected wildlife areas. This has led to a lot of deforestation across the country. By 2015, Cambodia had one of the highest rates of forest loss in the world.
Control of Media
After a period of more independent news, Hun Sen and the CPP began to control media in Cambodia more strictly. This now includes social media, which became a main news source for Cambodians in 2017.
Television, Radio, and Newspapers
Several TV stations are owned by people connected to Hun Sen's family or the CPP. For example, Bayon Television is owned by Hun Mana, Hun Sen's eldest daughter.
Radio stations were stopped from broadcasting some foreign news programs in August 2017. The Cambodia Daily, a well-known independent newspaper, closed on 4 September 2017. This was a day after the main opposition leader was arrested. The Phnom Penh Post, another independent newspaper, was sold in 2018 to an investor linked to Hun Sen. This made it less independent and closer to the government.
Personal Life
Hun Sen is married to Bun Rany. They have six children, including one adopted daughter. Their children are Kamsot (who passed away), Manet, Mana, Manith, Mani, and Mali.
All three of Hun Sen's sons have important roles in his government. His older brother, Hun Neng, was a governor and a member of parliament.
Hun Sen speaks Vietnamese fluently, in addition to his native Khmer. He also knows some English.
He is blind in one eye due to an injury he got during the fall of Phnom Penh. He uses an artificial eye made in Japan.
Hun Sen is a Buddhist. He has given a lot of money to help renovate many pagodas, which are Buddhist temples.
Until June 2022, Hun Sen used April 4, 1951, as his official birthdate. However, he was actually born on August 5, 1952. He changed it because of a Cambodian belief that having the wrong birthdate can cause problems. Many Cambodians have two birthdates because they lost their original birth certificates during the Khmer Rouge era. Hun Sen changed his because he believed his brother's death in May 2022 was linked to this belief, as his brother also had an incorrect birthdate.
Honours
National Orders:
Grand Order of National Merit (1996)
Grand Cross of the Royal Order of Cambodia
Grand Cross of the Royal Order of Sowathara
Grand Cross of the Royal Order of Monisaraphon
Sena Jayaseddh Medal
Medal of National Defense, with 2 gold stars
Medal of National Defense, with 2 silver stars
Medal of National Defense, with 2 bronze stars
Medal of Labour
National Construction Decoration
Foreign Orders:
- Brunei:
Recipient of the Sultan of Brunei Golden Jubilee Medal (2017)
- Cuba:
Recipients of the Order of José Martí (1999)
- Laos:
Gold Medal of the Nation (2008)
Order of Phoxay Lane Xang (2023)
- Philippines:
Grand Cross (Datu) of the Order of Sikatuna
- Russia:
Recipients of the Order of Friendship (2021)
- Thailand:
Knight Special Grand Cordon of the Order of the White Elephant (2001)
- Ukraine:
Member 3rd Class of the Order of Prince Yaroslav the Wise (Awarded by Volodymyr Zelenskyy, 30 December 2022)
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See also
In Spanish: Hun Sen para niños
- Modern Cambodia
- Politics of Cambodia
- People's Republic of Kampuchea
Images for kids
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Deforestation in Cambodia is partly driven by Economic Land Concessions (ELCs) within protected areas.
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Cambodia's deputy opposition leader Kem Sokha (left) was arrested in September 2017, while opposition leader Sam Rainsy (right) has lived in exile since November 2015.
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Hun Sen at a 2021 ASEAN Summit on Myanmar with Joko Widodo.
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Senate President Hun Sen meets with U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin in Phnom Penh, 4 June 2024.
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