The 7th government in the post-conflict era has set itself an agenda filled with restructuring, reform and a competitive mindset
THE CABINET
The Cabinet of Cambodia, officially known as the Office of the Council of Ministers, is the executive body of the Kingdom of Cambodia. It is led by the Prime Minister, assisted by Deputy Prime Ministers, Senior Ministers, Ministers and Secretaries of State. Members of the Cabinet are nominated by the Prime Minister and appointed by the Monarch.
The members of the seventh and current Council of Ministers were sworn in on 22 August 2023. The National Assembly voted Hun Manet as Prime Minister for a five-year term. All ministers are members of the Cambodian People’s Party (CPP).
Of the 30 ministries, 23 changed hands following the 2023 elections. Indeed, the children of some of the most powerful figures within the CPP inherited their fathers’ portfolios. The ages of the previous cabinet members were mostly above 60. Now, the mean age of ministry leaders is about 49 years old. Among the youngest incoming ministers is Hun Many, 41, the younger brother of Prime Minister Hun Manet. Only three of the current ministry leaders are female; two of them are incumbents.
PRIME MINISTER
Samdech Moha Borvor Thipadei Hun Manet, 46, succeeded his father, Hun Sen, as Prime Minister in August 2023, following a 28-year military career. The Khmer title translates to “Great Lord and Supreme Leader.” He was the first Cambodian to graduate (in 1999) from the United States Military Academy at West Point, New York, and has a PhD in economics from the University of Bristol in the United Kingdom. Hun Manet was a general in the Royal Cambodian Army and deputy commander-in-chief of the Royal Cambodian Armed Forces, and is a vice-president of the Cambodian People’s Party (CPP). Manet is Hun Sen’s second-eldest son and father to three children with his wife, businesswoman Pich Chanmony. His government has embarked on a path of economic and governance reform through the Kingdom’s “Pentagonal Development Strategy.”
Deputy Prime Minister & Minister of Economy and Finance
Aun Pornmoniroth, 58, is the incumbent Minister of Economy and Finance since 2013. Previously he was the economic adviser to Prime Minister Hun Sen for 15 years. He is a member of the National Assembly from Kandal province.
Deputy Prime Minister & First Vice-Chairman of the Council for the Development of Cambodia (CDC)
Sun Chanthol, 66, was Cambodia’s Minister of Public Works and Transport from 2004 to 2008 and 2016 to 2023. He was Minister of Commerce from 2013 to 2016, and has been a National Assembly member from Kandal province since 2003.
Deputy Prime Minister & Minister of Civil Service
Hun Many, 41, the youngest son of Hun Sen and brother of Prime Minister Hun Manet, has represented Kampong Speu province in the National Assembly since 2013. He is also the president of the Union of Youth Federations of Cambodia.
Deputy Prime Minister & Minister of the Office of Council Ministers
Vongsey Vissoth, 58, previously served 10 years as Secretary of State for the Ministry of Economy and Finance. In his new post, Vissoth schedules all cabinet meetings and sets the agendas. He was elected to the National Assembly from Kandal province.
Deputy Prime Minister & Minister of Interior
Sar Sokha, 43, was elevated to his new post to replace his father, Sar Kheng. Previously he was Secretary of State for the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sport. A lieutenant general in the Royal Cambodian Armed Forces, he is from Prey Veng province.
Deputy Prime Minister & Minister of National Defence
Tea Seiha, 43, formerly the governor of Siem Reap province, replaces his father Tea Banh, Defence Minister since 2006. Educated in France, Seiha was awarded the rank of major-general in the Cambodian armed forces in 2014.
Deputy Prime Minister & Minister of Education, Youth and Sport
Hang Chuon Naron, 61, has held this ministerial post since 2013. Prior, he was Secretary of State of Economy and Finance. As Minister of Education, Naron has overseen several major reforms. He is from Kampong Cham.
Deputy Prime Minister & Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation
Sok Chenda Sophea, 67, previously served 26 years as Secretary-General of the Council for the Development of Cambodia, an agency that assesses foreign investment opportunities. He was elected to the National Assembly from Kandal.
Deputy Prime Minister & Minister of Justice
Koeut Rith, 44, has been Minister of Justice by royal decree since 2020, and a deputy prime minister since 2023. An expert in criminal codes, he is leading a push for legislative and governance reform to improve judicial processes.
Deputy Prime Minister & Minister of Land Management, Urban Planning and Construction
Say Sam Al, 43, the son of outgoing Senate President Say Chhum, previously was the Minister of Environment from 2013 to 2023. He holds a PhD from Monash University in Australia. He was elected to the National Assembly from Preah Sihanouk province.
Deputy Prime Minister
Neth Savoeun, 66, was Cambodia’s national police chief from 2008 to 2023. His entire career has been in law enforcement, previously as police chief of Phnom Penh and as head of the justice department in the Interior Crimes division.
Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries
Dith Tina, 44, was appointed Agriculture Minister in October 2022, following eight years as Secretary of State for the Ministry of Mines and Energy. The son of retired Supreme Court President Dith Munty, he represents Tbong Khmum province in the National Assembly.
Minister of Environment
Eang Sophalleth, 53, has served as Secretary of State in this ministry for the previous five years, and as a spokesperson for Prime Minister Hun Sen for over 25 years.
Minister of Commerce
Cham Nimul, 43, is the daughter of former Industry, Science, Technology and Innovation Minister and Minister of Commerce (1994-2013) Cham Prasidh. She previously served as a Secretary of State in Commerce. She was elected to the National Assembly from Kampot.
Minister of Cults and Religion
Chay Borin, 50, elected to the National Assembly from Tboung Khmum, has moved up from serving as a Secretary of State at the same ministry. He has been closely associated with Hun Manet within the youth organisation supporting the Cambodian People’s Party.
Minister of Culture and Fine Arts
Phoeurng Sackona, 64, has been the head of this ministry since 2013 following her father-in-law, Chheng Phon, who previously held the position. She has overseen the return of numerous stolen antiquities to Cambodia from foreign museums and collectors.
Minister of Health
Chheang Ra, 53, was formerly the director general of state-run Calmette Hospital. Upon taking his ministerial post, Ra said he is committed to improving health facilities and education nationwide.
Minister of Industry, Science, Technology and Innovation
Hem Vanndy, 44, formerly served for three years as Secretary of State at the Ministry of Economy and Finance. In his ministerial post, he oversees national strategy decisions, policy dialogue and operational project management.
Minister of Information
Neth Pheaktra, 41, previously served as spokesperson for the Ministry of Environment. He has a background in communications and journalism and previously was a director of Apsara Media Services.
Minister of Labour and Vocational Training
Heng Sour, 49, began working at the Labour Ministry in 2008 and has served as its spokesperson since 2013. He also serves on the Secretariat of the National Council, a body established to resolve wage issues in the garment sector.
Minister of Mines And Energy
Keo Rottanak, 50, was managing director of Cambodia’s state-run electricity provider, Électricité du Cambodge (EDC), from 2008 until his recent ministerial appointment. He is from Pursat. See our full interview with Keo Rottank here.
Minister of Inspection
Huot Hak, 50, previously served as the Secretary of the Ministry of Inspection. He is the president of the Khmer Youth in Europe and a member of the ruling CPP’s Central Committee.
Minister of Planning
Bin Trochhey, 44, is the son of Bin Chhin, outgoing Minister for the Council of Ministers. As Planning Minister, he is responsible for socioeconomic planning and statistics management. He was formerly in private law practise.
Minister of Posts and Telecommunications
Chea Vandeth, 52, who represents Takeo province, became minister in April 2020, overseeing laws and regulations on digital technology and independent media. Vandeth was the founder of the American University of Phnom Penh in 2013.
Minister of Public Works and Transport
Peng Ponea, 43, is the son of former Deputy Prime Minister Men Sam An. Ponea previously worked as a Secretary of State at the Ministry of Public Works.
Minister of Rural Development
Chhay Rithisen, 54, is the son of former Planning Minister Chhay Than. Previously, he was Secretary General of the Department of Land Management, Urban Planning and Construction. He is from Tbong Khmum province.
Minister of Social Affairs, Veterans and Youth Rehabilitation
Chea Somethy, 47, formerly the governor of Prey Veng province, is a son of late Senate President Chea Sim. He obtained a bachelor’s degree in economics from university in Thailand and did postgraduate studies in the US.
Minister of Tourism
Sok Soken, 40, was previously a Secretary of State in the Foreign Affairs Ministry beginning in 2020. Soken is the son of the late Sok An, formerly Minister of the Council of Ministers, and the brother-in-law of new Commerce Minister Cham Nimul.
Minister of Water Resources and Meteorology
Thor Chetha, 46, has worked as a Secretary of State for the Water Resources Ministry since 2013 and holds a degree from Nanyang University in Singapore. He has previously led efforts to improve Cambodia’s agricultural production.
Minister of Women’s Affairs
Ing Kantha Phavi, 63, has headed this department for nearly 20 years. After earning a doctorate in medicine from Paris’ St-Antoine University, she returned to Cambodia in 1995. Her late father, Ing Keat, was a personal counsel to King Norodom Sihanouk in the 1990s.
Minister of Civil Aviation
Mao Havannall, 57, as a young man served as a Royal Cambodian Air Force pilot and has been in his civil-aviation post for two decades. He is an elected lawmaker representing Takeo for the ruling CPP.
Minister of Border Affairs
Lam Chea, 54, was appointed to a newly formed ministerial role overseeing Cambodia’s borders. He was formerly Secretary of State of the Ministry of Interior.
Ages are listed as of 1 January 2024, positions and titles as of March 2024.
