Cambodia to Implement Military Conscription Law Based on Military Needs, PM Says

PHNOM PENH, April 27, 2026 (KPT) — Prime Minister Hun Manet has said Cambodia’s new military conscription system will be implemented according to the armed forces’ actual annual requirements, rather than recruiting all eligible citizens.

Speaking at a public event in Phnom Penh on April 26, Samdech Thipadei Hun Manet said only the number of recruits needed each year would be selected from those reaching eligible age, with priority given to volunteers.

“If Cambodia needs 30,000 or 50,000 troops, then among one million eligible youths, not all will be recruited,” he said.

The remarks came days after the Council of Ministers approved a draft law on military conscription on April 23.

The proposed legislation, comprising eight chapters and 20 articles, sets out procedures for national service under Article 49 of the constitution.

It aims to strengthen defence while promoting discipline, physical fitness and civic responsibility.

Under the draft, military service would apply to citizens aged 18 to 25, with participation by women remaining voluntary.

Samdech Thipadei Hun Manet said the law is intended to update a 2006 conscription framework now considered outdated, describing service as both a civic duty and an honour.

Cambodia’s armed forces also play a broader role beyond defence, including disaster response and support for social development programmes.