Cambodia denies viral claims it ordered African nationals to leave the country

Cambodian authorities have firmly rejected a viral message that claimed the government ordered all African nationals including, Kenya Uganda, Tanzania and Ghana to leave the country, calling the notice false and misleading, reports Cambodianess.

The Ministry of Interior stated the viral post did not originate from any of their official source and that no policy has been enacted targeting Africans, or any foreign group, for removal.

Government officials emphasized that Cambodia remains open to foreigners for tourism, business, and employment, so long as they follow immigration and visa rules.

According to The Guardian, the ministry clarified that while the country enforces its immigration laws, there is no blanket directive requiring African nationals to exit by a specific deadline, as the viral message alleged.

“The General Department of Immigration of the Ministry of Interior of the Kingdom of Cambodia wishes to clarify that the information published on those websites is completely untrue,” the GDI statement said.

Immigration waivers were reportedly only issued to a number of workers with expired visas, often those who were freed or fled from scam centres, in order to allow them time to arrange passage back to their home countries, reports Phnom Penh Post.

“To obtain official information, the public are requested to visit the official website of the General Department of Immigration or call (+855) 78 38 66 99 directly,” further said the GDI statement. 

Authorities attributed the story to misinformation spreading through social media channels, further warning that such false reports can harbor unnecessary panic and bad-blood among residents and visitors.

This, they say, may likely harm Cambodia’s international reputation. In response, the government urged the public to verify information through official channels and to avoid sharing unverified claims that could cause alarm or confusion.

The ministry’s statement also reassured embassies, international organisations, and the foreign community that there is no change in policy affecting their stay.

Cambodian officials reiterated their commitment to maintaining public order and ensuring that immigration procedures are applied fairly and transparently to all nationalities.

They encouraged anyone with concerns about their legal status or visa conditions to contact immigration authorities directly for accurate guidance.

In short, Cambodian authorities have categorically denied issuing any mass deportation or exit order targeting African nationals. The viral notice was dismissed as baseless, and officials has since urged restraint and fact-checking to prevent the spread of Malicious content/news.