HOSTILE TAKEOVER

The report 'Hostile Takeover' by Global Witness exposes how the family of Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen has established a dominant grip on the country's economy and political apparatus. By mining government corporate registry data, the investigation reveals that the family has registered interests in 114 companies with listed capital exceeding US$200 million, spanning sectors from energy and mining to media and gambling. The document details how this economic power is used to reinforce political control, often through the use of proxies and shell companies to obscure ownership. It further highlights the social and environmental costs of these business interests, including forced evictions and land grabs. The report warns international investors of the legal and reputational risks of doing business with the Hun family and recommends stringent due diligence and governance reforms in Cambodia.

• The Hun family exercises total or substantial control over 90% of these companies, with 103 of the 114 firms listing a family member as chairperson, director, or holding a share of more than 25%.
• Approximately 26% of the companies linked to the family are 'Single Member Private Limited Companies', where a family member is listed as director or chair, suggesting they are the sole owners.
• The family's business interests are diversified across 20 sectors, including trade, finance, energy, tourism, gambling, construction, agriculture, and mining.
• Hun Mana, the eldest daughter of Hun Sen, holds the largest portfolio in the family with interests in 22 companies and listed share capital exceeding US$66 million.
• The Hun family has established business connections with major global brands, including Apple, Nokia, Visa, Unilever, Procter & Gamble, Honda, Heineken, and Canon.
• The family dominates the energy sector through companies like Cambodia Electricity Private, which is jointly owned by Hun Manith, Hun Mana, and Hun Maly, and sells electricity to the state provider Electricite du Cambodge.
• The family maintains political control by placing relatives in key state positions; for example, Hun Manet holds four high-ranking military roles, including deputy commander of the army and commander of counter-terrorism special forces.
• The report documents severe human rights and environmental abuses linked to family-affiliated companies, such as forced evictions and land grabs by Khun Sea Import Export and WS Mining Industry Holdings.
• The Cambodian judiciary is described as being under Hun Sen's control, allowing family members to avoid prosecution for serious crimes, including drug trafficking and violent incidents.
• The 'oknha' title is used as a tool for patronage, granted to business people who donate at least US$100,000 to Hun Sen's party in exchange for government contracts or resource licenses.
• The Cambodian Red Cross, presided over by Bun Rany, is characterized as the 'humanitarian wing' of the ruling Cambodian People's Party (CPP) and is used for political gain.

APA

Global Witness (2016). HOSTILE TAKEOVER. https://globalwitness.org/documents/152/Hostile_Takeover_Cambodia_report_July_16.pdf

Chicago

Global Witness. HOSTILE TAKEOVER. 2016. https://globalwitness.org/documents/152/Hostile_Takeover_Cambodia_report_July_16.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=Global Witness |title=HOSTILE TAKEOVER |date=1 July 2016 |url=https://globalwitness.org/documents/152/Hostile_Takeover_Cambodia_report_July_16.pdf |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{globalwitness2016hostile, author = {{Global Witness}}, title = {{HOSTILE TAKEOVER}}, institution = {Global Witness}, year = {2016}, month = jul, url = {https://globalwitness.org/documents/152/Hostile_Takeover_Cambodia_report_July_16.pdf}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }