WhereIsAtlas · Cambodia

What Happened to Hun Sen?

The leader who ruled Cambodia for nearly four decades. He handed the premiership to his son in 2023 — but he never really left power.

Hun Sen ruled Cambodia as Prime Minister for nearly four decades. In 2023 he handed the premiership to his son Hun Manet, but he did not retire — remaining head of the Cambodian People's Party and President of the Senate, still a central figure in the country's politics.

One of the world's longest-serving leaders

Hun Sen has been the dominant figure in Cambodian politics for decades. Rising to power in the 1980s, he became Prime Minister and consolidated control, ultimately ruling the country for nearly four decades and becoming one of the world's longest-serving heads of government.

The transition

In a carefully managed move in 2023, Hun Sen stepped down as Prime Minister, handing the position to his eldest son, Hun Manet. On paper it was a retirement; in practice it was a reshuffle of where power sat.

From PM to Senate President

Hun Sen did not leave politics. He retained the leadership of the Cambodian People's Party and was elected President of the Senate — a role that keeps him firmly at the center of the country's decision-making.

Still at the helm

He continues to exert influence behind the scenes. When border tensions flared with Thailand in July 2025, Hun Sen was at the front, coordinating the government's response and dismissing rumors that he had fled. It was a clear signal that while his title has changed, his power over Cambodian politics is largely intact.

Where Hun Sen is now

Hun Sen may no longer be Prime Minister, but he is far from retired. As head of the ruling party and President of the Senate, he remains one of the most influential figures in Southeast Asia — a leader who traded the premiership for a different seat in the same game of power.

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