In early November, tension between the two Southeast Asian kingdoms escalated after clashes and explosions were reported along the border. On Monday, 4 November, a landmine exploded in Thailand’s Sisake province, in the northeastern part of the country, injuring four Thai soldiers on patrol in the area. Following the incident, the Thai prime minister announced the suspension of the peace agreement signed last October in Malaysia, with the mediation of US President Donald Trump.
On 6 November, the countries exchanged accusations of starting a shooting in the Banteay Meanchey province in northwestern Cambodia, which left one person killed and three injured. Cambodia’s Ministry of Defence said that Thai soldiers opened fire in the early afternoon, accusing them of violating the peace declaration. In response, a Thai army spokesperson claimed that Cambodian soldiers fired shots towards its eastern Sa Kaeo province. In September, the same village saw a confrontation in which Thai police used tear gas and rubber bullets to suppress a demonstration by Cambodian villagers.
While the clashes were brief, they marked a significant setback for the peace process raising concerns over a possible return to the instability that earlier in the year led to the death of 43 people and the displacement of more than 300,000 people.
A further obstacle to the negotiations is the claim by Bangkok that the explosive device that injured the four patrol officers had been newly planted by Cambodia, in violation of the peace agreement. Phnom Penh dismissed the accusation, arguing the mine was one of the many remnants from the country’s civil war.
In response to the November escalation, Malaysia has stepped up its diplomatic engagement. Malaysia’s foreign ministry stressed that trust between the two sides has deteriorated significantly, with mounting domestic political pressure limiting room for compromise, and that external facilitation will be essential to prevent further violence. Acting as ASEAN chair, Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim has spoken directly with both governments, urging restraint and offering Kuala Lumpur as a venue for renewed talks. He disclosed that both Thailand and Cambodia reaffirmed their commitment to pursuing a peaceful resolution.
What remains clear is that without sustained dialogue and concrete measures to protect civilians, the populations living along the Thai-Cambodian border continue to face insecurity and the enduring consequences of the conflict. The humanitarian fallout from the latest surge in tensions is already visible on the ground. Authorities evacuated around 250 families from Prey Chan village, in Cambodia’s Banteay Meanchey province, relocating them to a nearby Buddhist temple. For many of these families, this marks yet another displacement since July’s clashes, compounding exhaustion, economic loss, and psychological distress. Living conditions in temporary shelters are often precarious, as families face overcrowding, disrupted access to food and basic health services, and little clarity about when it will be safe to return home.
Without meaningful progress toward de-escalation and a sustained commitment to civilian protection, the humanitarian needs of these communities will only deepen, prolonging the cycle of displacement and instability.