2021 in Cambodia

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Decades:	2000s 2010s 2020s
See also:	Other events of 2021 List of years in Cambodia

Events in the year 2021 in Cambodia .

Incumbents

• Monarch: Norodom Sihamoni
• Prime Minister: Hun Sen

Events

Ongoing — COVID-19 pandemic in Cambodia

• 10 February - Cambodia begins COVID-19 vaccinations with 600,000 Sinopharm doses from China; Hun Sen’s sons and ministers are among the first recipients. ^[1]
• 2 March - Opposition leader Sam Rainsy is sentenced in absentia to 25 years in prison, while other senior Cambodia National Rescue Party members receive 20-22 years. ^[2]
• 11 March - Cambodia promulgates the Law on Measures to Prevent the Spread of COVID-19 and other Serious, Dangerous and Contagious Diseases (“COVID-19 Law”), introducing penalties including up to 20 years in prison and heavy fines. ^[3]
• 9 April - Lockdowns are imposed in Phnom Penh and other cities, with “red zones” facing food shortages, mass testing, and extending restrictions for the next month. ^[3]
• 30 April - Kandal provincial authorities warn farmers in Sa’ang district not to post images of rotting vegetables on social media, pressuring farmers to sign agreements to stop posting such content. ^[4]
• 1 May - The Cambodian Government Spokesperson Unit demands the immediate cessation of social media posts deemed to “provoke and create chaos” during the COVID-19 pandemic. ^[4]
• 3 May - The Ministry of Information announces that only state media or government-invited journalists can report from Phnom Penh’s COVID-19 “red zones.” ^[4]
• 4 May - Journalists banned from reporting in COVID-19 lockdown area as cases soar. ^[5]
• 16 May - Environmental journalist Uk Mao from Eagle News is detained without a warrant by plainclothes military officers in Stung Treng Province amid ongoing judicial harassment. ^[6]
• 18 August - Multiple prisoners, including trade union leader Rong Chhun, arrive at Phnom Penh Municipal Court following multiple convictions. ^[7]
• 7 October - Prime Minister Hun Sen says that the government might make amendments to the country’s Constitution that would ban dual citizens from serving in the country’s top political posts ^[8]
• 25 October - The National Assembly (Cambodia) passed amendments to the constitution, banning the prime minister, presidents of the National Assembly, Senate and the Constitutional Council from having dual citizens. ^{[9] [10]}
• 26 October - A Phnom Penh court fines 14 people and sentences some to up to two years in prison for holding peaceful rallies in support of jailed human rights advocate Rong Chhun. ^[11]
• 3 November - The King signs the Dual citizenship law ban. ^[12]
• 16 December - The Phnom Penh Court of First Instance issues a provisional disposition declaring a planned strike at NagaWorld illegal. ^[13]
• 18 December - Over 1,300 employees of NagaWorld begin a strike for reinstatement of 365 dismissed workers. Authorities order it to stop, citing an inapplicable law. ^[13]

Deaths

Norodom Yuvaneath

• 13 January – Norodom Yuvaneath, royal (born 1943). ^[14]

References

1. "Cambodia launches COVID-19 vaccinations with shots for PM's sons, ministers". Reuters. 2021-02-10. Retrieved 2025-08-31.
2. "'Mockery of justice': Cambodia's Rainsy gets 25-year jail term". Al Jazeera. Retrieved 2025-08-31.
3. "Authorities must avert COVID-19 humanitarian crisis in Cambodia". Amnesty International. 2021-04-30. Retrieved 2025-08-31.
4. "Cambodia: Stop silencing critical commentary on COVID-19: Joint statement". Amnesty International. 2021-05-25. Retrieved 2025-08-31.
5. "Cambodia Bans Media Coverage From Covid Lockdown 'Red Zones'". International Business Times. 4 May 2021. Retrieved 11 May 2021.
6. "Cambodia: Environmental journalist Uk Mao detained without warrant amid escalating judicial harassment | RSF". rsf.org. 2025-05-16. Retrieved 2025-08-31.
7. Human Rights Watch (2021-12-03), "Cambodia: Events of 2021", Share this via Facebook, retrieved 2025-08-31
8. "Cambodia Considers Dual Citizenship Ban for High Office Holders".
9. "Cambodia passes law barring dual citizenship for holders of top posts". Bangkok Post.
10. "Cambodia parliament adopts constitutional amendments prohibiting dual citizenship for top leaders". 27 October 2021.
11. Bopha, Phorn. "Cambodia 'bleeding' as space for civil society shrinks". Al Jazeera. Retrieved 2025-08-31.
12. "King promulgates 'dual citizen' ban for top posts".
13. "Statement: Strike Action by NagaWorld Employees". LICADHO. 2021-12-20. Retrieved 2025-08-31.
14. "Prince Norodom Yuvaneath succumbs to illness". khmertimeskh.com. 15 January 2021. Retrieved 31 January 2021.