Cambodian PM Hun Sen dumps Facebook on eve of poll campaign

By AFP June 29, 2023 | 04:24 pm PT

Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen speaks at a press conference during the EU-ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) summit at the European Council headquarters in Brussels on December 14, 2022. Photo by AFP/John Thys

Cambodian leader Hun Sen, a prolific Facebook user, vowed on Thursday to quit posting on the popular social media platform, days before he launches a re-election campaign.

Cambodia will go to the polls on July 23 in an election that has been widely dubbed a sham after authorities denied registration to the chief challenger to Hun Sen's ruling Cambodian People's Party.

Hun Sen is among the world's longest-serving leaders and, after 38 years in power, is on the cusp of retiring. His son Hun Manet is slated to lead the kingdom in the future.

Hun Sen, who will kick off his re-election campaign on Saturday, said he will now use the Telegram app to relay his political messages to supporters, and TikTok to engage with youth.

Hun Sen's Facebook account appeared no longer available Thursday evening.

"I asked my assistants to delete it immediately," Hun Sen said on his Telegram channel.

"From now on, any Facebook account with Hun Sen names are all fake," he added.

His Telegram channel has 860,000 followers and he has ramped up activity in recent months, posting pictures and political messages.

Hun Sen's Facebook page was launched in 2015 after his opponents, particularly exiled opposition leader Sam Rainsy, used the platform to successfully reach younger voters.

It has 14 million followers.

Hun Sen's move away from Facebook came as the Oversight Board for Meta, Facebook's parent company, recommended his Facebook and Instagram accounts be suspended for six months due to a video where he is seen warning opponents that they would face legal action or other consequences if they accused his party of vote theft in July's national polls.