April 24, 2026
PHNOM PENH – The Cambodian Cabinet is reviewing a draft law on compulsory military service. While some observers believe the law is crucial for national defence, they are calling for measures to ensure the process is free from corruption.
On the morning of April 23, Prime Minister Hun Manet chaired a cabinet meeting to discuss several draft laws, including the draft law on military service. Specific details regarding the contents of the law have not yet been released.
In fact, Cambodia already has military service obligations that were promulgated 20 years ago, but the law appears to have never been fully implemented. It requires Cambodian citizens aged 15 to 30 to fulfil eighteen months of military service. However, in June 2025, Hun Manet revealed that his cabinet intended to amend the law by increasing the duration from 1.5 years to 2 years to allow for additional training.
Meas Nee, an independent social monitor, believed that it is necessary for Cambodia to implement conscription laws, noting that many countries at peace have such obligations to ensure citizens possess at least basic combat skills.
He continued that, according to his observations, while Cambodia has a need for this military service, the country faces certain other challenges, such as economic factors.
“If we recruit too many troops, we may not have enough [resources] to support them,” he said. He added that he has heard public criticism regarding corruption within the military ranks, although he had not conducted research to determine the extent of it. He also urged the government to review the existing military forces.
“Regarding the [past] conflict with Thailand, we already know the level of our forces compared to theirs. We must learn from this and reform and organise the capabilities of our existing troops to be comparable to theirs, while also strengthening military technology,” he suggested.
He urged an investigation into suspicions of corruption to ensure there aren’t “ghost soldiers” on the military payroll, or that the actual number of soldiers available for combat differs from the figures on the roster.