AKP Phnom Penh, March 03, 2026 --

The leader of the international organisation of French-speaking nations and Cambodia’s top diplomat visited hundreds of displaced families Tuesday, as border tensions with neighbouring Thailand continue to stall a return to normalcy for villagers in the country’s northwest.

H.E. Ms. Louise Mushikiwabo, Secretary-General of the Organisation Internationale de la Francophonie (OIF), joined Cambodian Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister H.E. Prak Sokhonn at a temporary shelter in Siem Reap province. The delegation met with 414 families – approximately 1,395 individuals – currently taking refuge at the Wat Thammarangsey safe centre, commonly known as Wat Sampov Loun in Kralanh district, Siem Reap province.

The displaced residents fled their homes in the O’Smach area of Oddar Meanchey province. According to local officials, the families were forced to evacuate following territorial incursions by Thai military forces that reportedly occurred after a formal ceasefire between the two nations had already gone into effect.

During the visit, H.E. Ms. Mushikiwabo and H.E. Sokhonn distributed food and essential supplies to the families, who remain unable to return to their villages due to the ongoing instability along the frontier.

H.E. Ms. Mushikiwabo is on a four-day working mission to Cambodia to discuss the progress of the preparations for the 20th Francophonie Summit, which will take place on Nov. 15- 16, 2026 in Phnom Penh.

By K. Rithy Reak