AKP Phnom Penh, October 24, 2026 —

Cambodia on Saturday held a ceremony to mark the 20th anniversary of its participation in United Nations (UN) peacekeeping operations, under the presidency of Prime Minister Samdech Moha Borvor Thipadei Hun Manet.

Ms. Vladanka Andreeva, UN Resident Coordinator in Cambodia, was also present at the event, organised at the Multinational Peacekeeping Training Centre in Kampong Speu province.

“Cambodia’s 20 years of participation in UN peacekeeping operations also mark the country’s transformation from a war-torn nation, once described as a killing field and an insecure region, into a new Cambodia that plays an important role in maintaining regional order and contributing to world peace,” he said.

The Prime Minister also stressed that these achievements were made possible by Cambodia’s Win-Win Policy, which brought peace, stability and national reconciliation to the country and paved the way for Cambodia to contribute to international peacekeeping efforts.

On the occasion, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of National Defence H.E. Tea Seiha said April 12, 2006, marked a historic milestone when Cambodia deployed its 135th Mine Clearance Company, comprising 135 military personnel, to Sudan to serve in a UN peacekeeping mission.

Over the past 20 years, Cambodia has deployed a total of 74 contingents, comprising 10,914 military personnel, including 1,083 women, to 10 countries under UN peacekeeping operations, he said.

Cambodian peacekeepers have served in nine areas of expertise, including mine clearance, military police, horizontal and vertical engineering, airfield engineering, Level 2 hospitals, unexploded ordnance disposal, staff officers and military observers.

The 10 countries are Sudan, South Sudan, Chad, Lebanon, Cyprus, Syria, Mali, the Central African Republic, Yemen and the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

Currently, 475 Cambodian military personnel are serving in UN peacekeeping missions in Sudan, South Sudan, Lebanon, the Central African Republic and the Democratic Republic of the Congo, H.E. Tea Seiha added.

Cambodia’s participation in UN peacekeeping operations reflects the country’s continued commitment to international cooperation, the protection of civilians, and the promotion of peace and security around the world, he said.

By Heng Panha