Cambodia was governed from Hanoi as part of French Indo-China from 1864 until 1953 when King Norodom Sihanouk, who had been placed on the throne by the French in 1941, achieved full independence. He ruled Cambodia until 1970, when Marshal Lon Nol ousted him in a coup. The Lon Nol government was defeated by the insurgent forces of the Khmer Rouge, an extreme left-wing party, led by SalothSar (known as Pol Pot), which ruled Cambodia from 1975 to 1979, when it is estimated around 1.7m Cambodians (over 20% of the population) died from starvation, disease or execution. In early 1979 Vietnam invaded Cambodia, ousted the Khmer Rouge and established the People's Republic of Kampuchea (1979-1989), later renamed the State of Cambodia.

The Khmer Rouge regrouped their forces along the Thai border and waged a war against the Phnom Penh government, in a loose alliance with royalist and other anti-Vietnamese groups. The Vietnamese eventually withdrew their forces from Cambodia in 1989.

The Paris Peace Agreements of 1991 and the establishment of the UNTAC (the United Nations Transitional Authority in Cambodia) from 1991-1993, helped bring stability to Cambodia.

In 1993, the country adopted its current name of the Kingdom of Cambodia. The Royalist National United Front (FUNCINPEC) narrowly won the first democratic elections, organized in 1993 by UNTAC and formed a coalition government with the Cambodian People's Party (CPP) for an Independent, Neutral, Peaceful and Cooperative Cambodia. However, heavy fighting broke out between the two coalition partners in 1997 in advance of the 1998 elections, which established CPP as the dominant party.

The subsequent 1998 elections were won by the CPP. A new coalition government between CPP and FUNCINPEC was formed in November 1998 with Hun Sen as Prime Minister. A Senate was established in 1998.

Geography »

Cambodia, with an area of 69,898 square miles, is bordered by Thailand, Laos and Vietnam and has a coastline on the Gulf of Thailand. Apart from the Cardamom Mountains in the southwest and uplands in the northeast, the country is predominantly flat. The scarp slope of the Dangrek Mountains marks much of the northern border with Thailand.

In the center of the country is the largest lake in South East Asia, the Tonle Sap. The capital, Phnom Penh, is located at the confluence of the Mekong, Tonle Sap and Bassac rivers. Beyond the river valleys the land is frequently infertile, because rainfall is scant and there is little irrigation. Most Cambodians live in rural areas, cultivating rice as their stable crop.

Politics »

Cambodia is a constitutional monarchy. The cabinet is constitutionally responsible to the National Assembly. The Head of State is King NorodomSihamoni. The Throne Council selects the King. The National Assembly (Lower House) is made up of 123-seats and has a term of 5 years. The term of the 61-member Senate (Upper House) runs concurrently with the National Assembly.

During the past 10 years Cambodia has enjoyed greater political stability and territorial unity than for decades, with an increased sense of security amongst the general population.

International Relations »

Membership of International/Groupings/Organisations. United Nations (UN), Association of southeast, Asian Nations (ASEAN), Non-Alliance, Movement (NAM), Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM), Asia- Europe Foundation (ASEF).

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