Supreme National Council

Cambodian government

Also known as: SNC

Written by

The Information Architects of Encyclopaedia Britannica

Last updated

July 14, 2026

Quick Summary

The Supreme National Council (SNC) was a largely ceremonial coalition government established in Cambodia in 1991. It was chaired by Prince Sihanouk and included representatives from the Cambodian government and three other factions. While the SNC was recognized by the United Nations, the Phnom Penh regime retained effective control over most of the country. This council was a result of peace negotiations following Vietnam's withdrawal from Cambodia in 1989, aiming to establish a popularly elected government. The SNC's creation was a significant step toward ending the long-standing political stalemate and civil conflict in Cambodia.12

Summary created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.

2 Britannica Sources

Ask Britannica AI about this topic

Britannica doesn't have a full article on this topic, so we've curated a list of our relevant coverage.

Cambodia
The 1990s
…ceremonial coalition government under a Supreme National Council (SNC) chaired by Sihanouk and composed of representatives of the government and the three factions. Although the SNC was recognized by the United Nations, effective control in most of Cambodia remained in the hands of the Phnom Penh regime. The second and…
Read More
…ceremonial coalition government under a Supreme National Council (SNC) chaired by Sihanouk and composed of representatives of the government and the three factions. Although the SNC was recognized by the United Nations, effective control in most of Cambodia remained in the hands of the Phnom Penh regime. The second and…
Read More