Cambodia Urges Francophonie on Fragile Border Ceasefire with Thailand

Cambodia has informed the International Organization of La Francophonie (OIF) that its border ceasefire with Thailand remains fragile, accusing Bangkok of repeated violations of sovereignty and territorial integrity despite a truce agreed in December 2025. Ambassador Louy David delivered the remarks during a meeting of the Permanent Council of La Francophonie in Paris on July 1, chaired by OIF Secretary‑General Louise Mushikiwabo. He outlined what Cambodia described as unlawful actions by Thailand, including preventing civilians from returning to their homes, maintaining what Phnom Penh considers an illegal occupation of Cambodian territory, and attempting to unilaterally alter the border line. The envoy said Cambodia rejected any attempt to change boundaries through force or faits accomplis, referring to unilateral changes made on the ground to establish new realities. He thanked Mushikiwabo for visiting Cambodian refugees in March, calling the gesture a demonstration of solidarity by La Francophonie. On maritime issues, Louy David said Cambodia had launched compulsory conciliation proceedings under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) after Thailand withdrew from a 2001 Memorandum of Understanding. He said the move was intended to secure a fair, equitable and lasting settlement in line with international law. Cambodia has repeatedly stressed that compulsory conciliation under UNCLOS is now its only peaceful legal option to resolve overlapping maritime claims and offshore resource disputes in the Gulf of Thailand. Officials say the objective is to establish a clearly defined maritime boundary while pursuing mutually beneficial development of oil and gas resources. The ambassador’s intervention underscores Cambodia’s efforts to rally international support through multilateral forums, highlighting both the fragility of the land border ceasefire and its reliance on international law to settle maritime disputes.