United Nations–administered Cambodia

This was the first time the United Nations directly assumed responsibility for the administration of an independent member state.

Background

The Kingdom of Cambodia became independent from France on 9 November 1953. The monarchy was overthrown in a coup d'état on 18 March 1970 leading to the formation of the Khmer Republic. The Khmer Rouge came to power on 17 April 1975 resulting in the country becoming known as Democratic Kampuchea. Between 1975 and 1979, the Khmer Rouge's regime killed millions of its own people through mass executions, forced labour, and starvation, is what came to be known as the Cambodian genocide. The Khmer Rouge were overthrown on 7 January 1979 following the Vietnamese invasion of Cambodia. A rival government, the People's Republic of Kampuchea, was subsequently proclaimed by Vietnamese occupation forces, however the previous regime, which would become the Coalition Government of Democratic Kampuchea in 1982, continued to be recognised by the United Nations as the legitimate government of Cambodia. The Paris Peace Accords were signed in October 1991 to end the ongoing conflicts in Cambodia. The United Nations Transitional Authority in Cambodia (UNTAC) was established following the adoption of Resolution 745 by the Security Council on 28 February 1992.

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Administration

The Paris Peace Agreement specified the system of administration in Cambodia during the transitional period.

Supreme National Council

The Supreme National Council (SNC) as the sovereign body of Cambodia, represented the country externally and occupied its seat at the United Nations. Norodom Sihanouk was the chairman of the SNC. The SNC allowed its authority over all administrative agencies, bodies and offices acting in foreign affairs, national defence, finance, public security and information to be exercised by UNTAC on its behalf. A council with the same name in Cambodia was established in 2005, which also got chaired by Norodom Sihanouk.

Constituent Assembly

A Constituent Assembly was elected on 28 May 1992. Prince Ranariddh's FUNCINPEC Party was the top vote recipient with a 45.5% vote, followed by Hun Sen's Cambodian People's Party and the Buddhist Liberal Democratic Party, respectively. FUNCINPEC then entered into a coalition with the other parties that had participated in the election. The parties proceeded to draft and approve a new constitution, which came into effect on 24 September 1993. It established a multiparty democracy in the framework of a constitutional monarchy, with Prince Sihanouk elevated to King. Prince Ranariddh and Hun Sen became First and Second Prime Ministers, respectively in the new Cambodian government. Son Sann was the speaker of the assembly.

Membership by party

Office holders

De facto leader

During the first months Chea Sim was the de facto leader of Cambodia.

Special Representative of the Secretary General

Yasushi Akashi of Japan served as the Special Representative of the Secretary General for Cambodia

Chairman of the Supreme National Council

Prince Norodom Sihanouk became Chairman of the Supreme National Council on 17 July 1991 (and Head of State on 20 November 1991, six days after returning from abroad), retaining the position after the establishment of UNTAC in February 1992, and was appointed Chief of State by the Constituent Assembly on 14 June 1993. He would become King of Cambodia on 24 September 1993.

Head of State (President of the Council of State/Chief of State)

Prime Minister

Hun Sen who had been prime minister of the People's Republic of Kampuchea since 1984 remained prime minister of Cambodia after the formation of UNTAC and was appointed as one of two co-prime ministers, together with Prince Norodom Ranariddh, by the Constituent Assembly on 2 July 1993.