Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen’s record of 38 years in power is currently exceeded by only three African despots. The presidents of Equatorial Guinea, Cameroon, and Uganda, Théodoros Obiang Nguema Mbasogo, Paul Biya, and Yoweri Museveni, have all held power for longer than Hun Sen. Like him, they are political fossils who have done their countries more harm than good.
Mere political longevity is not enough to satisfy Hun Sen. His aim is to establish a North Korean-style dynasty under which his descendants will continue to hold power. Hun Sen is currently attempting to manage a succession to power of his eldest son to take place after the elections scheduled for July.
He has even publicly said that after becoming the father of a prime minister, he later wants to become the grandfather. Such a dynasty would simply perpetuate absolute power and the impunity which accompanies it. In economic terms, the plan amounts to state capture by a family which is giving itself a license to prey on the resources of a whole country.
