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Hun Manet

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Hun Manet

Hun Manet (born 20 October 1977) is a Cambodian politician and military officer who has served as Prime Minister of Cambodia and Vice President of the ruling Cambodian People's Party (CPP) since 2023. He is the second child of Senate president and former prime minister Hun Sen and Bun Rany.

Manet grew up in Phnom Penh, where he received his general education before joining the Royal Cambodian Armed Forces (RCAF) in 1995. That same year, he was admitted to the United States Military Academy at West Point, becoming the first Cambodian to graduate from the academy in 1999. Prior to entering politics, he served in the Royal Cambodian Army (RCA), rising to the positions of deputy commander-in-chief and commander of the Royal Cambodian Army.

Following the 2023 general election, his father announced his resignation as prime minister on 26 July, designating Manet as his successor. After receiving a royal nomination from King Norodom Sihamoni, Manet and his cabinet were unanimously approved by the National Assembly and formally sworn into office on 22 August 2023. As prime minister, he has overseen major infrastructure projects such as the construction of the Funan Techo Canal and the completion of Siem Reap–Angkor International Airport and Techo International Airport. His government has also managed challenges including U.S. tariffs on Cambodian goods and the Cambodia–Thailand border conflict.

Hun Manet was born on 20 October 1977 in Koh Thmar village, Memot District, Kampong Cham Province, in the Khmer Rouge-ruled Democratic Kampuchea as the second son of Hun Sen and Bun Rany. He is of Teochew Chinese heritage through his paternal grandfather Hun Neang. His maternal grandparents were also of Chinese descent. According to Sen, on the night of Manet's birth, a bright light flew over the roof of the house leading Sen to believe that his son was born from a supernatural being worshipped in Koh Thmar village.

Manet grew up and received his general education in Phnom Penh and later joined the Royal Cambodian Armed Forces (RCAF) in 1995, the same year he entered the United States Military Academy. Having received his diploma in May 1999, he became the first Cambodian academy graduate and one of only seven foreign cadets to graduate that year. Upon graduation from West Point, he received his bachelor's degree in economics and a commission as a lieutenant in the Royal Cambodian Army (RCA). He also received a Master of Arts in economics from New York University in 2002 and a Doctor of Philosophy in economics from the University of Bristol in 2009. His doctoral thesis was titled "What determines the firm size distribution and structural integration? A cross-county study".

Manet joined the RCAF in 1995, the same year he entered the United States Military Academy. He became a major general in January 2011, just months after being named deputy commander of the Royal Cambodian Army and deputy chief of the RCAF Joint Staff. Manet played a prominent role in negotiations during the 2008 Cambodian–Thai stand-off. He became a lieutenant general in June 2013 and was later promoted to a four-star general in July 2018, coinciding with his new responsibilities as deputy commander-in-chief of the RCAF. His younger brother, Hun Manith, also serves in the RCAF, as a brigadier general. On 20 April 2023, Manet was officially promoted to four-star general. Minister of Defence Tea Banh described Manet's promotion as a reflection of his efforts to "serve the nation, military and Cambodian people".

On 30 June 2018, weeks before the parliamentary elections, Hun Sen appointed Manet to higher military positions in a bid to prepare his son for the premiership when he retired from politics or died, effectively solidifying the Hun political dynasty in Cambodia. Hun Sen had mentioned Manet as his potential successor.

In June 2020, Manet was promoted to head of the CPP's youth wing.

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