The new Council of Ministers was passed by the National Assembly on August 22, 2023, heralding a generational change in the power structures that control the country. Hun Manet brings in with him a fleet of ministers — many the children of previous cabinet members — who will be expected to tackle the pressing issues facing the country. This graphic presents the outgoing and new council of ministers and the familial relationships that bind many of the ministers.
Read about each outgoing minister and the person who will replace them, including their abundant familial relationships with cabinet colleagues.
Also available:
- Profiles of all 125 incoming lawmakers, including some checkered histories.
Hun Sen, Prime Minister
Hun Sen has been prime minister since 1985, starting his premiership under a Vietnamese-installed government. After years of subtle hints, Hun Sen in 2021 got the CPP to approve his son Hun Manet as the future prime minister. It was only in July 2023, days after the recent national election, that Hun Sen finally confirmed that Manet and a new cabinet would be sworn in on August 22, 2023.
Hun Manet, Prime Minister
Hun Manet will be Cambodia’s third prime minister since 1993, when the first U.N.-administered election was held. He was previously army commander and is the son of Hun Sen. He is also related to other cabinet members Hun Many, Neth Savoeun, Huot Hak, Sok Soken and Chheang Ra.
Bin Chhin, Deputy Prime Minister & Minister for the Council of Ministers
Bin Chhin had the arduous task of taking over this position in 2017 from the late Sok An, who was a popular administrator of the government. While keeping a low profile, Bin Chhin was given additional responsibilities in March 2023, including heading a land dispute resolution mechanism.
Vongsey Vissoth, Deputy Prime Minister & Minister for the Council of Ministers
Vongsey Vissoth has seen his clout grow within the Ministry of Economy and Finance where he was a senior secretary of state.
Vissoth will have the heavy task of assisting all the prime minister and deputy prime minister with all their work, manage the running of the government from the Council of Ministers, finish any pending work at the Khmer Rouge tribunal and liaise with parliament and draft answers to questions from lawmakers, and any special work or mission assigned by the prime minister.
Yim Chhay Ly, Deputy Prime Minister
Yim Chhay Ly has been a longtime ally of Hun Sen and has overseen the development and investment in the agriculture sector. His daughter is married to Hun Sen’s son, his eldest son is a senior police officer, another son is a businessman and a third son recently got promoted to deputy governor of the national bank.
Neth Savoeun, Deputy Prime Minister
Neth Savoeun has overseen the National Police, which has been accused of repeated human rights violations and complicity in the arrests of opposition and dissenting voices. He is married to Hun Sen’s niece, and the couple were allegedly in possession of Cypriot citizenship through an investment scheme.
Savoeun, who has relinquished his position as National Police chief, will be acting prime minister in Hun Manet’s absence and will hold major power in his responsibility to oversee national security and public order, including directing the military when the prime minister is not present. This is a departure from previous mandates where the interior minister was first in line to be acting prime minister.
Ke Kim Yan, Deputy Prime Minister
Ke Kim Yan was the commander of the Royal Cambodian Armed Forces until Hun Sen removed him in 2009 and replaced him with Pol Saroeun, an ally to Hun Sen during the 1997 coup. Kim Yan’s daughter is married to Sar Sokha, the new interior minister.
Sun Chanthol, Deputy Prime Minister
Sun Chanthol has previously held the cabinet positions of Minister of Commerce and Minister of Public Works and Transport. He is a son-in-law of businessman Khau Chhuly and has previously worked for General Electric in the U.S.
Chanthol will have to use his prior ministerial experience to help Manet attract foreign investment, guide transportation and logistics policy and sit on various bodies such as the Council for the Development of Cambodia and co-chair the China-Cambodia Intergovernmental Coordination Committee.
Hor Namhong, Deputy Prime Minister
Hor Namhong has served as a diplomat in France and Cuba before he was made foreign minister in 1998. He stepped down from the position in 2016 and was Cambodia’s longest serving foreign minister. He relinquishes his position, and the new cabinet will have one fewer total deputy prime ministers.
Sar Kheng, Deputy Prime Minister & Minister of Interior
Sar Kheng has been interior minister since 1992 and has overseen the introduction of controversial legislation like LANGO and a police force accused of rights violations and excessive force. He is the brother-in-law of late CPP president Chea Sim and an in-law to Ke Kim Yan.
Sar Sokha, Deputy Prime Minister & Minister of Interior
Sar Sokha is Sar Kheng’s son and was previously a secretary of state at the Ministry of Education, Sports and Youth. He is married to Ke Kim Yan’s daughter and is a brother-in-law to National Assembly member Ke Suon Sopheap.
Tea Banh, Deputy Prime Minister & Minister of Defense
Tea Banh has been the defense minister since 2006 and has been accused of allowing the Cambodian military to use force and violence against civilians. He is also overseeing the renovation of the Ream Naval Base, which rumors say will house Chinese forces when completed. His brother Tea Vinh is the head of the Cambodian navy.
Tea Seiha, Deputy Prime Minister & Minister of Defense
Tea Seiha is Tea Banh’s son and was the governor of Siem Reap since 2018. He is also a three-star general in the military and will take over civilian leadership of Cambodia’s armed forces.
Chea Sophara, Deputy Prime Minister & Minister of Land Management, Urban Planning & Construction
Chea Sophara is most widely known in Phnom Penh as a popular governor. In taking over the Land Ministry, he has overseen a boom — and likely recent deflation — in the construction sector. But land disputes remain the most common problem to plague Cambodians, with Sophara personally managing the eviction of residents around Angkor Wat.
Say Sam Al, Deputy Prime Minister & Minister of Land Management, Urban Planning & Construction
Say Sam Al moves from the Environment Ministry to the coveted Land Ministry. The move will see him inherit a legacy of unresolved land disputes and a more recent trend of transferring state land to private individuals, government officials and well-connected tycoons. He is the son of CPP stalwart Say Chhum, who is set to lose his job as Senate president to Hun Sen next year.
Prak Sokhonn, Deputy Prime Minister & Minister of Foreign Affairs & International Cooperation
Prak Sokhonn served as Minister of Posts and Telecommunications till 2016 when he was made the foreign minister, taking over from cabinet stalwart Hor Namhong. He is married to National Assembly member Kheng Samvada and is father-in-law to Hem Vandy, the new minister of industry, science, technology & innovation, .
Sok Chenda Sophea, Deputy Prime Minister & Minister of Foreign Affairs & International Cooperation
Sok Chenda Sophea has been the head of the Council for the Development of Cambodia and spearheads investment inflows into the country. He has previously worked at the Ministry of Tourism and for French corporations.
Aun Pornmoniroth, Deputy Prime Minister & Minister of Economy & Finance
Aun Pornmoniroth holds on to the critical Ministry of Economy and Finance. Pornmoniroth is the chair of the Supreme National Economic Council and current chair of the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank. He too attempted to apply for a Cypriot passport, like cabinet colleague Neth Savoeun. He is married to businesswoman Im Paulika, who is daughter of former Education Minister Im Sothy, and his son is married to influential tycoon Choeung Sopheap’s granddaughter.
Pornmoniroth will be acting prime minister if Savoeun is absent and, as comes with the portfolio of economy and finance minister, will assist Manet on all economic matters. He will head related committees such as the economic and financial policy committee, national social protection council and the Supreme National Economic Council.
Hang Chuon Naron, Deputy Prime Minister & Minister of Education, Youth & Sports
Hang Chuon Naron retains his position at the Education Ministry. While being credited for a cleanup of the annual high school examination, his ministry has been unable to stem corruption in schools, low teaching standards and the recent trend of school dropouts, especially in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic.
Keut Rith, Deputy Prime Minister & Minister of Justice
Keut Rith remains as Justice Minister and gets a promotion to deputy prime minister. He has previously served as a secretary of state at the Ministry of Justice before being elevated to minister in 2020. The ministry has attempted to reduce caseloads in the judiciary but has done little to reform a judicial system that is considered one of the most corrupt in the world.
Men Sam An, Deputy Prime Minister & Minister of National Assembly & Senate Relations & Inspection
Men Sam An has been a deputy prime minister since 2009 and has been associated with businesspersons linked to alleged online gambling and illicit activity in Sihanoukville. She also heads a local NGO that increased its presence observing elections, giving the last few polls a green flag.
Huot Hak, Minister of National Assembly & Senate Relations & Inspection
Huot Hak takes over the ministry from Men Sam An and is the brother-in-law of former first lady Bun Rany’s niece Kry Vouchleng.
Say Sam Al, Minister of Environment
Say Sam Al was made environment minister in 2013 and has been in office as Cambodia’s forests have seen increasing destruction in the last decade. He is brother of Say Samath, the newly-minted National Bank deputy governor; son-in-law of Supreme Court justice Dith Munty; and brother-in-law of Agriculture Minister Dith Tina.
Eang Sophalleth, Minister of Environment
Eang Sophalleth was a secretary of state at the Environment Ministry and an assistant to Hun Sen. He is married to outgoing Land Minister Chea Sophara’s daughter, who is the owner of the Paragon group of companies. He has an avid interest in agriculture.
Sun Chanthol, Minister of Public Works & Transport
Sun Chanthol was previously at the Commerce Ministry where he introduced the companies registry. After moving to the Ministry of Public Works and Transport he has been managing road construction, which has been largely funded by the Chinese government.
Peng Punea, Minister of Public Works & Transport
Peng Punea was a secretary of state at the same ministry and will now head it as minister. Punea is son of outgoing Deputy Prime Minister Men Sam An. His late father Peng Pat was a senator and his brother Peng Pursa was recently made Svay Rieng governor.
Cham Prasidh, Minister of Industry, Science, Technology & Innovation
Cham Prasidh was the minister of commerce for more than a decade before he was asked to head the Ministry of Industry and Handicrafts, which was split from the Ministry of Mines and Energy. He is the father of Cham Nimul and father-in-law of new Tourism Minister Sok Soken.
Hem Vandy, Minister of Industry, Science, Technology & Innovation
Hem Vandy is a secretary of state at the Ministry of Economy and Finance. He has previously worked at the Supreme National Economic Council, Cambodian Mine Action Authority, Asian Development Bank and UNFPA. He is married to outgoing Foreign Minister Prak Sokhonn’s daughter.
Suy Sem, Minister of Mines & Energy
Suy Sem served as the minister of industry, mines and energy before it was split into two ministries in 2013. He is the husband of Chea Kheng, who owns KDC International, a company embroiled in a long-standing dispute in Kampong Chhnang.
Keo Rattanak, Minister of Mines & Energy
Keo Rattanak is the head of utilities provider Electricite du Cambodge and will take over the Energy Ministry, which has been working to make Cambodia energy self-sufficient, though most new power generation has come from coal and hydro power dams.
Mam Bunheng, Minister of Health
Mam Bunheng was at the forefront of Cambodia’s efforts to stave off the Covid-19 pandemic and has been applauded for a vaccination campaign that has been largely successful.
Chheang Ra, Minister of Health
Chheang Ra takes over from Mam Bunheng and will give up his position as director of state-run Calmette Hospital. Ra is married to former first lady Bun Rany’s niece Kim Sokleap.
Ith Samheng, Minister of Labor & Vocational Training
Ith Samheng previously headed the Ministry of Social Affairs before taking over as labor minister. The sector has seen near-constant turmoil over wages, union busting and factory closures that have often left workers with nothing, with little respite offered by Samheng’s ministry.
Heng Sour, Minister of Labor & Vocational Training
Heng Sour was a secretary of state at the Labor Ministry and has been part of efforts to start the tripartite minimum wage council. But little has been done to address other long-standing issues plaguing the garment sector, such as risky transportation and workers’ rights.
Chea Vandeth, Minister of Posts & Telecommunications
Chea Vandeth will remain minister at the Ministry of Posts and Telecommunications. He took over control of the ministry in 2020 and has since approved the blocking of critical news websites and set the grounds for a national internet gateway to police Cambodians’ access to the internet.
Ouk Rabun, Minister of Rural Development
Ouk Rabun was previously minister of agriculture before he was moved to the Rural Development Ministry. He has been accused of corruption and nepotism for recruiting his son and family into the ministry.
Chhay Rithisen, Minister of Rural Development
Chhay Rithisen previously worked at Phnom Penh’s land management department but was removed after a string of land disputes in the capital, including the Boeng Kak lake conflict. He is the son of outgoing Planning Minister Chhay Than.
Pan Sorasak, Minister of Commerce
Pan Sorasak was a secretary of state before he was elevated to commerce minister in 2016. He passed a long-delayed E-Commerce Law, which penalizes online sellers — a major market on Facebook — that do not register with the government.
Cham Nimul, Minister of Commerce
Cham Nimul has worked at the Commerce Ministry for more than two decades and most recently served as a secretary of state at the ministry. She is the daughter of Industry Minister Cham Prasidh, who previously ran the Commerce Ministry. Her sister is married to new Tourism Minister Sok Soken.
Chhay Than, Minister of Planning
Chhay Than was foreign minister under the Vietnamese-run government in the 1980s, after which he moved to the Planning Ministry as a secretary of state before being made the minister. His son Chhay Rithisen will take over the Rural Development Ministry.
Bin Troachhey, Minister of Planning
Bin Troachhey takes over the Planning Ministry, which has seen its impact on people increase exponentially since Covid-19, when the government increased spending on the ID Poor program. He is the son of Bin Chhin, outgoing minister for the Council of Ministers.
Vong Soth, Minister of Social Affairs, Veterans & Youth Rehabilitation
Vong Soth has come under criticism for the ministry’s handling of the Prey Speu detention center and for comments he made in 2017 threatening to beat people with a bamboo stick if they protested the 2018 election results. He is son-in-law of outgoing National Assembly president Heng Samrin.
Chea Somethy, Minister of Social Affairs, Veterans & Youth Rehabilitation
Chea Somethy has served as the governor of Prey Veng, a stronghold of his late father and former CPP President Chea Sim. Somethy was previously a deputy National Police chief and is related to Sar Kheng and Sar Sokha.
Dith Tina, Minister of Agriculture, Forestry & Fisheries
Dith Tina will retain the Agriculture Ministry portfolio. He was the most recent minister added to the old cabinet. He has initiated a policy to have one agricultural expert in each commune and wants to increase export of cash crops. He is the son of the Supreme Court justice Dith Munty and brother-in-law of new Land Minister Say Sam Al.
Lim Kean Hor, Minister of Water Resources & Meteorology
Lim Kean Hor headed the ministry for more than two decades and has recently faced criticism for appointing two of his children to the ministry.
Thor Chetha, Minister of Water Resources & Meteorology
Thor Chetha was a secretary of state at the Ministry of Water Resources and Meteorology and will take over the ministry.
Khieu Kanharith, Minister of Information
Khieu Kanharith has previously asked to retire from the Information Ministry, and will now be able to hand over the reins to a ministry that has actively participated in the systematic dismantling of the free press since 2017.
Neth Pheaktra, Minister of Information
Neth Pheaktra was a spokesperson at the Minister of Environment, where he has routinely denied allegations of mass deforestation in the country. He takes over the Information Ministry, having previously worked in the communications team for the Khmer Rouge tribunal.
Phoeurng Sackona, Minister of Culture & Fine Arts
Phoeurng Sackona retains the culture and fine arts portfolio. She has been at the forefront of repatriating Angkorian relics stolen over the years, but has also worked to evict people from their homes around Angkor Wat and have them moved to a derelict relocation site.
Thong Khon, Minister of Tourism
Thong Khon has served as a secretary of state at the ministry since 1993 before accepting the top job in 2008. He has attempted to shepherd Cambodia through the Covid-19 pandemic and has pushed to see Chinese tourists to return to the country.
Sok Soken, Minister of Tourism
Sok Soken was until recently a secretary of state at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation but has also worked at the Commerce Ministry and the Council for the Development of Cambodia. He is the son of the late Sok An, who was the minister for the Council of Ministers, and is married to the daughter of Cham Prasidh.
Chhit Sokhon, Minister of Cult & Religion
Chhit Sokhonn was a secretary of state at the Council of Ministers before he was picked to be a minister in 2020.
Chay Borin, Minister of Cult & Religion
Chay Borin is a lawmaker from Tbong Khmum and in a recent meeting with party supporters claimed he was relaying a message from Hun Manet, suggesting a potentially close relationship with the prime minister.
Ing Kantha Phavi, Minister of Women’s Affairs
Ing Kantha Phavi will continue as minister of women’s affairs after close to two decades in this cabinet position. She was one of the last Funcinpec ministers to join the CPP in the early 2000s. Violence against women and children remains a persistent problem, with many victims finding little recourse in Cambodia’s corrupt police and judicial system.
Prum Sokha, Minister of Civil Services
Prum Sokha took over this role in 2020, after being a long-time secretary of state at the Interior Ministry.
Hun Many, Minister of Civil Services
Hun Many has been a lawmaker from Kampong Speu and runs the popular UYFC organization, which functions as an unofficial youth wing of the CPP. He is a son of Hun Sen, brother of Hun Manet, married to Yim Chhay Ly’s daughter and also related to Sok Soken, Chheang Ra and Huot Hak.
Mao Havanall, Minister in Charge of the State Secretariat of Civil Aviation
Mao Havanall will remain at the State Secretariat of Civil Aviation. He was trained as a MiG-21 pilot in the 1980s, piloted a VIP squadron ferrying dignitaries and even flew planes to transport the late Prince Norodom Ranariddh. He has been at the SSCA for decades.
Var Kimhong, Minister in charge of Border Committee
Lam Chea, Minister in charge of Border Committee
Senior Minister in Charge of Special Mission
Kun Kim, Senior Minister
Kun Kim will be in charge of work related to veterans and people with disabilities and continue as the first vice president of the National Committee for Disaster Management.
Ho Sithy, Senior Minister
Ho Sithy will continue as chief of cabinet for Manet and implement any other work assigned by the prime minister.
Om Yentieng, Senior Minister
Om Yentieng will remain in charge of the controversial Anti-Corruption Unit and do any other work assigned by Manet.
Ieng Mouly, Senior Minister
Ieng Moly will be in charge of the National AIDS Authority and any other work assigned by the prime minister.
Othsman Hassan, Senior Minister
Othsman Hassan will help with any work relating to the Muslim community and any other work assigned by the prime minister.
Ly Thuch, Senior Minister
Ly Thuch will be the president of National Committee for ESCAP, first vice president of Cambodian Mine Action and Victim Assistance Authority, and any other work assigned to him.
Meas Sophea, Senior Minister
Pich Sophoan, Senior Minister
Pich Sophoan will be in charge of strengthening education and professional training, and any other work assigned by Manet. He is the father of Manet’s wife Pich Chanmony.
Nhim Vanda, Senior Minister
Prum Sokha, Senior Minister
Prum Sokha will be the president of the National Authority for Combating Drugs, previously headed by former Deputy Prime Minister Ke Kim Yan, and any other work assigned by the prime minister.
Khun Hang, Senior Minister
Sak Setha, Senior Minister
Sak Setha will be the permanent vice president of the National Committee for Sub-National Democratic Development and any other work assigned by the prime minister.
Pol Saroeun, Senior Minister
Ouk Rabun, Senior Minister
Ouk Rabun will serve as the president of the Council of Agriculture and Rural Development and the National Committee for the Promotion of One Village One Product Movement and any other work assigned by the prime minister.
Ouk Prathna, Senior Minister
Ouk Prathna will assist the prime minister in any tasks related to “social work and culture” and any other assigned projects.
Keo Remy, Senior Minister
Keo Remy will help the prime minister with human rights work in Cambodia and will remain as president of the Cambodia Human Rights Committee.
Chhay Sinarith, Senior Minister
Chhay Sinarith, who was a deputy commissioner at the National Police, will work on the collection and analysis of security-related information and any other work assigned to him.
Ky Tech, Senior Minister
Ky Tech will help manage the government’s team of lawyers and any other assigned tasks.
Thong Khon, Senior Minister
Thong Khon, who was previously tourism minister, will now be in charge of development of sports, lead the National Olympic Committee of Cambodia, and any other work assigned by the prime minister.
Chhieng Yanara, Senior Minister
Chhieng Yanara will be the second vice president of Council for the Development of Cambodia, in charge of development cooperation and any other assigned work.
Y Chhean, Senior Minister
Y Chhean will assist Manet in work related to the joint border committee and any other work assigned by the prime minister.
Ouch Borith, Senior Minister
Ouch Borith will help Manet in foreign relations work related to foreign political parties and public institutions and any other assigned tasks.