Prak Sokhonn ( km, ប្រាក់ សុខុន; born 3 May 1954) is a

Cambodia Cambodia (; also Kampuchea ; km, កម្ពុជា, UNGEGN: ), officially the Kingdom of Cambodia, is a country located in the southern portion of the Indochinese Peninsula in Southeast Asia, spanning an area of , bordered by Thailan ...

n politician, diplomat and journalist, currently serving in the

Cabinet of Cambodia The Cabinet of Cambodia, officially known as the Office of the Council of Ministers ( km, ទីស្ដីការគណៈរដ្ឋមន្ត្រី, ), is the executive body of the Kingdom of Cambodia led by the Prime Minister, assis ...

as Minister of Foreign Affairs of Cambodia since 2016, and Deputy Prime Minister of Cambodia since 2018.

Early life and education

Sokhonn was born on 3 May 1954 in Phnom Penh, Cambodia. Sokhonn studied law in Phnom Penh between 1972 to 1975.

Career

Sokhonn entered the

Kampuchean People's Revolutionary Armed Forces The Kampuchean People's Revolutionary Armed Forces (KPRAF), also the Khmer People's Revolutionary Armed Forces were the armed forces of the People's Republic of Kampuchea, the ''de facto'' government of Cambodia 1979–1990. It was formed with m ...

in 1979, eventually becoming a 4-star general as well as the Spokesman of the

Royal Cambodian Armed Forces The Royal Cambodian Armed Forces (RCAF; km, កងយោធពលខេមរភូមិន្ទ ) is Cambodia's national military force. The Supreme Commander-in-Chief is King Norodom Sihamoni. Since 2018, General Vong Pisen has been ...

. He also spent three years as an ambassador in Europe. He was the Minister of Posts and Telecommunications from 2013 to 2016. He was sworn in as foreign minister on April 5, 2016. His predecessor Hor Namhong retired from his post as foreign minister on 4 April 2016 after 17 years in office, though remained as a deputy prime minister. Prior to being named Minister of Posts and Telecommunications, Sokhonn was Vice-President of the Cambodian Mine Action and Victim Assistance Authority, which regulates landmine clearance and assistance to landmine survivors in Cambodia. During that tenure, he was elected to chair the Anti-Personnel Mine Ban Convention, better known as the

Ottawa Treaty The Convention on the Prohibition of the Use, Stockpiling, Production and Transfer of Anti-Personnel Mines and on their Destruction of 1997, known informally as the Ottawa Treaty, the Anti-Personnel Mine Ban Convention, or often simply the Mine ...

, aimed at eliminating landmines around the world, for one year, including presiding over the diplomatic treaty's meeting in Phnom Penh. As President of the conference, he tried to promote adherence to the landmine treaty in South East Asia, succeeding in securing the participation of Myanmar in the meeting The Eleventh Meeting of the States Parties to the Anti-Personnel Mine Ban Convention (11MSP) chaired by Sokhonn, was the largest international gathering ever hosted in Cambodia. In November 2021, Hun Sen signaled he may replace Erywan Yusof with Sokhonn, who has criticized the Burmese military regime, when Cambodia chairs ASEAN next year, as ASEAN's special envoy to Myanmar. Sokhonn was confirmed to succeed Yusof on 1 January 2022.

Personal life

Sokhonn is married to Kheng Samvada, and they have a daughter and two sons. He speaks fluent Khmer, French, and English.

References

External links

, - {{DEFAULTSORT:Prak, Sokhonn 1954 births Living people Cambodian Buddhists 21st-century Cambodian politicians People from Phnom Penh Cambodian People's Party politicians Deputy Prime Ministers of Cambodia Government ministers of Cambodia Members of the National Assembly (Cambodia) Recipients of the Legion of Honour Foreign ministers of Cambodia Cambodian military personnel Cambodian generals

Early life and education

Career

Personal life

See also

References

External links