Western educated and serving as the current commander of the Royal Cambodian Army, Hun Manet is slated to assume the role of Cambodian Prime Minister on August 22 after Hun Sen handed over the baton to his eldest son.

As Cambodia’s first shift of power since January 14, 1985, Hun Sen is the only leader swathes of the nation’s population have ever known. Despite Hun Manet standing in the nation’s spotlight for some years, serving in top roles in the military, little is known about Cambodia’s Prime Minister in-waiting.

Manet, 45, was born on October 20, 1977, in Memot, Kampong Cham under the Khmer Rouge regime. He was educated in Phnom Penh and went on to join the Royal Cambodian Armed Forces (RCAF) in 1995. In the same year, he enrolled at the prestigious United States Military Academy at West Point.

When he graduated in May 1999, it is said he became the first Cambodian West Point graduate. He went on to receive a Bachelor’s degree in economics and was recruited as Lieutenant of the RCAF.

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Hun Manet votes in a primary school in Phnom Penh, July 23, 2023. Kiripost/Siv Channa

Highly-educated Manet then earned a Master’s degree in Economics at New York University, US, in 2002. In 2009, he received a PhD in Economics at the University of Bristol in the UK. His time studying abroad equipped him with adept English skills.

Since then, Manet has rapidly risen RCAF’s ranks, boasting an esteemed military career. His positions include head of counterterrorism, deputy chief of Hun Sen’s bodyguard unit, army chief and deputy military commander, rising to his current role as four-star general and RACF commander.

Married to Pich Chanmony, the daughter of senior Cambodian policymaker Pich Sophoan, Manet is believed to have long been groomed for the role of Prime Minister. In December 2021, Hun Sen named his son as his successor but did not indicate a timeframe.

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Today, Hun Sen officially announced Hun Manet will assume the role on August 22. This has caused political analysts worldwide to question how the strong ties between Cambodia and China and the shaky relations between the Kingdom and the US will pan out, as well as Manet’s leadership strategy.

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