Hun Manet (born Oct 20 1977) became Cambodia’s 33rd prime minister on 22 Aug 2023 when King Norodom Sihamoni invited him to form a government after the ruling Cambodian People’s Party claimed victory in the July 2023 general election . He is the eldest son of former prime minister Hun Sen and Bun Rany . A bright light was said to have appeared over the family home when he was born, a story that his father uses to suggest mystical significance .
Early life and education
- Schooling and heritage. Manet grew up in Phnom Penh while Cambodia was suffering through civil war . His family’s ancestry is partly Teochew Chinese through his grandfather Hun Neang . He received his early education in the capital and joined the Royal Cambodian Armed Forces (RCAF) in 1995 .
- West Point and economics training. In 1995 he entered the United States Military Academy at West Point on a Thai scholarship and became the first Cambodian to graduate from the academy in May 1999 . Upon graduating he received a bachelor’s degree in economics and a commission as a lieutenant in the Royal Cambodian Army . He continued his studies in economics, earning a master’s degree from New York University in 2002 and a PhD from the University of Bristol in 2008. These degrees are in economics , and multiple sources note that he is the first Cambodian West‑Point graduate and holds Western degrees .
- Comparison with his father. Hun Sen, who served as prime minister from 1985 to 2023, had a very different educational path. He left his family at 13 to study at a Buddhist monastery in Phnom Penh , later joined the Khmer Rouge and stopped his schooling when Lon Nol seized power in 1970 . Britannica notes that he was “educated at a Buddhist monastery” and joined the Communist Party of Kampuchea before 1970 , and he later earned a master’s degree in public administration from Vietnam’s National Academy of Public Administration . Unlike his father’s limited schooling, Hun Manet’s résumé features Western academic credentials.
Military and political career
- Rising through the ranks. After returning from West Point, Manet pursued a military career. He became deputy commander of the RCAF Joint Staff and deputy commander of the Royal Cambodian Army, and he was promoted to major general in 2011 and lieutenant general in 2013 . In 2018 he reached the rank of four‑star general . His roles included commander of Cambodia’s national counter‑terrorism special forces and head of the prime minister’s bodyguard unit .
- Entering politics. He joined the Cambodian People’s Party (CPP) standing committee in 2018, headed the party’s youth wing in 2020 and was unanimously endorsed as the CPP’s future candidate for prime minister in December 2021 . Following the CPP’s landslide victory in the July 2023 elections (held amid the disqualification of the main opposition party ), Hun Sen announced his resignation and King Norodom Sihamoni appointed Hun Manet prime minister. The National Assembly unanimously confirmed his cabinet, and he was sworn in on 22 Aug 2023 .
- Policies and events. As prime minister, Manet has balanced continuity with symbolic reforms. He banned musical truck horns in March 2024, citing public disturbance , and launched the Funan Techo Canal project in August 2024 to reduce reliance on Vietnamese ports . His administration has also faced controversies such as border tensions with Thailand and criticism from international observers regarding the fairness of Cambodia’s elections .
Personal life
Manet married Pich Chanmony, daughter of a Cambodian politician, in 2006; the couple have two daughters and a son . He remains active in social programs, chairing scholarship and volunteer doctor associations that provide education and healthcare to Cambodians .
Significance
Hun Manet’s ascent marks a generational change in Cambodia’s leadership. He combines a Western education and high‑ranking military experience with the political support of his father’s long‑entrenched ruling party . Observers note that his Western education may give him technical competence, but many analysts caution that substantial political reforms are unlikely because the CPP and Hun Sen still dominate Cambodia’s political landscape. Nonetheless, his story—from pagoda‑boy heritage to West Point graduate and four‑star general—illustrates a trajectory filled with determination and opportunity, inspiring many young Cambodians.