Environment
The United Nations' 35-year peacekeeping mission in Western Sahara has come to an end after the Security Council failed to reach an agreement on extending its mandate.
The United Nations' 35-year peacekeeping mission in Western Sahara has come to an end after the Security Council failed to reach an agreement on extending its mandate. According to the Associated Press and Reuters, the UN Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara (MINURSO) was established in 1991 to monitor a ceasefire and organize a referendum on the territory's future. However, disagreements over voter eligibility prevented the referendum from taking place.
A US-backed draft resolution was vetoed by Russia, while an alternative Russian proposal to extend the mission also failed to secure approval. Morocco welcomed the decision, whereas Algeria and the Polisario Front expressed concern. The United Nations has warned that the mission's termination could create new security risks in the region. UN Secretary-General's spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric said that a working group within the Department of Operational Support would oversee the withdrawal of assets and vehicles and the handover of equipment by troop-contributing countries.
UN Secretary-General António Guterres expressed concern over the security situation in Western Sahara and warned of the risk of escalating military tensions. He urged all parties to exercise maximum restraint and avoid actions that could further heighten tensions or undermine regional stability. Guterres stressed that the end of MINURSO's operations would not diminish the Sahrawi people's "inalienable right to self-determination." Political mediation efforts are continuing under the leadership of the UN Personal Envoy, Staffan de Mistura. A deadlock emerged during the Security Council meeting on October 30, when Russia vetoed a draft resolution prepared by the United States. The proposal described autonomy under Moroccan sovereignty as the only viable solution to the Western Sahara dispute. It also sought to narrow the mission's mandate, remove the letter "R" from its name and bring its operations to a complete end by April 30, 2027.
MINURSO stands for the United Nations Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara. The letter "R" refers to the referendum, which was a central element of the UN-mediated peace plan of 1991. The plan gave the people of Western Sahara the choice between independence and integration with Morocco. The United States maintains that the referendum has remained stalled for decades because the parties have been unable to agree on voter eligibility lists. Washington wants to focus on Morocco's autonomy proposal and suggested removing the letter "R" from the mission's name to reflect this new direction.
US Ambassador Mike Waltz criticized opposition to the draft resolution, saying that Russia wanted to retain the letter "R" in the mission's name to preserve the reference to a referendum, even though the United Nations had made no preparations for such a vote in decades. He added: "UN officials have been telling us this reality for the last 30 years." In contrast, Russian Ambassador Vasily Nebenzya argued that the US proposal clearly sought to steer the outcome of negotiations towards a solution favourable to Morocco, undermining the Sahrawi people's right to choose their own future.
He stressed that the Security Council could not independently determine issues relating to sovereignty. Nebenzya stated: "The Security Council cannot take such a one-sided approach. Therefore, we were compelled to prevent the adoption of this draft resolution." A competing draft resolution proposed by Russia, which sought to extend MINURSO's mandate for another year, also failed to pass. It received only two votes in favour, while 11 members abstained. Consequently, the mission's mandate expired on October 31 without an alternative agreement.
Western Sahara became a disputed territory following Spain's withdrawal in 1975 and Morocco's subsequent annexation of the territory. This led to a conflict with the Polisario Front, which is fighting for an independent state for the Sahrawi people. In 1991, the United Nations brokered a ceasefire agreement and established MINURSO to monitor the truce and prepare for a referendum on self-determination. However, disagreements between the two sides over voter registration repeatedly stalled the voting process. During its 35 years of operation, MINURSO cost more than $1.7 billion. Its annual budget at times reached $62 million, and the mission had approximately 155 military personnel. A total of 20 UN personnel also lost their lives while serving in the mission.
The end of MINURSO's operations has drawn mixed reactions. Morocco welcomed the decision, describing it as a "significant development" and arguing that the mission had turned into an "instrument for internationalizing the conflict." The country also called for UN personnel and equipment to leave the southern territory in the coming days. In contrast, the Polisario Front and Algeria opposed the development. Polisario representative Sidi Omar argued that the US draft sought to "undermine the foundations of the UN peace process" and "threaten regional and international peace."
Algeria's Foreign Ministry also expressed regret, accusing Washington of showing "excessive bias" in favour of Morocco. Low-intensity fighting between Morocco and the Polisario Front resumed in November 2020. Oxfam has warned that the withdrawal of peacekeeping forces could pose a serious threat to the safety of tens of thousands of Sahrawi refugees living in camps in Tindouf, Algeria.
