Cambodia Cabinet Approves Military Service Bill for Citizens Aged 18 to 25
Cambodia Cabinet Approves Military Service Bill for Citizens Aged 18 to 25
PHNOM PENH, April 23, 2026 — Cambodia’s Cabinet has approved a draft law on military service requiring Cambodian citizens aged 18 to 25 to fulfill national defence obligations, while participation by women would remain voluntary, according to an official statement released late Thursday.
The draft legislation, approved during a full Cabinet meeting chaired by Prime Minister Hun Manet, is intended to update and replace provisions under Cambodia’s 2006 military service law, which officials said no longer fully addresses present and future national needs.
Under the proposed law, all Cambodian citizens within the specified age bracket would be subject to military service requirements in accordance with regulations to be set out under the legislation. Women would be eligible to serve on a voluntary basis.
The government spokesperson unit said the draft law contains eight chapters and 20 articles, and is designed to implement Article 49 of Cambodia’s Constitution, which states citizens have a duty to defend the nation.
Officials described military service as both a necessary obligation and an honour for citizens, saying the measure would help strengthen national defence capacity, physical development, patriotism, discipline and civic responsibility.
The statement added that the law would be promulgated under an urgent procedure, indicating an accelerated legislative timetable.
Cambodia already has a conscription law enacted in 2006, but compulsory service has never been fully implemented. Successive governments have periodically discussed activating or revising the framework amid changing regional security dynamics.
The approval comes as Phnom Penh has increased focus on defence modernisation, border security and military preparedness under Hun Manet, a former army commander who took office in 2023.
