GeoFroggy

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Background

The 1991 Paris Peace Accords mandated democratic elections and a cease-fire, which was not fully respected by the Khmer Rouge. UN-sponsored elections in 1993 helped restore some semblance of normalcy under a coalition government. Factional fighting in 1997 ended the first coalition government, but a second round of national elections in 1998 led to the formation of another coalition government and renewed political stability. The remaining elements of the Khmer Rouge surrendered in early 1999. Some of the surviving Khmer Rouge leaders have been tried or are awaiting trial for crimes against humanity by a hybrid UN-Cambodian tribunal supported by international assistance. Elections in July 2003 were relatively peaceful, but it took one year of negotiations between contending political parties before a coalition government was formed. In October 2004, King Norodom SIHANOUK abdicated the throne and his son, Prince Norodom SIHAMONI, was selected to succeed him. The most recent local (Commune Council) elections were held in Cambodia in 2012, with little of the preelection violence that preceded prior elections. National elections in July 2013 were disputed, with the opposition - the Cambodian National Rescue Party (CNRP) - boycotting the National Assembly. The political impasse was ended nearly a year later, with the CNRP agreeing to enter parliament in exchange for ruling party commitments to electoral and legislative reforms.

Location

Southeastern Asia, bordering the Gulf of Thailand, between Thailand, Vietnam, and Laos

Area Comparative

Slightly smaller than Oklahoma

Maritime Claims

Territorial sea: 12 nm

Contiguous zone: 24 nm

Exclusive economic zone: 200 nm

Continental shelf: 200 nm

Climate

Tropical; rainy, monsoon season (May to November); dry season (December to April); little seasonal temperature variation

Natural Hazards

Monsoonal rains (June to November); flooding; occasional droughts

Environment Current Issues

Illegal logging activities throughout the country and strip mining for gems in the western region along the border with Thailand have resulted in habitat loss and declining biodiversity (in particular, destruction of mangrove swamps threatens natural fisheries); soil erosion; in rural areas, most of the population does not have access to potable water; declining fish stocks because of illegal fishing and overfishing

Environment International Agreements

Party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Marine Life Conservation, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands, Whaling

Signed, but not ratified: Law of the Sea

Geography Note

A land of paddies and forests dominated by the Mekong River and Tonle Sap (Southeast Asia's largest freshwater lake)

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Map Reference

Southeast Asia

Irrigated Land 2006

3,536 sq km

Area 2015

Total

181,035 sq km
Land

176,515 sq km
Water

4,520 sq km

Coastline

443 km

Geographical Coordinates

13 00 N, 105 00 E

Land use 2015

Agricultural Land
32.1%;
Forest
56.5%
Other
11.4%

Terrain

Mostly low
Flat plains; mountains in southwest and north

Land Boundaries

Total
2,530 km
Laos km
Thailand
817 km
Vietnam
1,158 km

Natural Resources

Oil and gas
Timber
Gemstones
Iron ore

Manganese
Phosphates
Hydropower potential
Arable land

CAMBODIA