UN expresses concerns as Western Sahara peacekeeping mission ends

The UN Security Council (UNSC) failed to renew the mandate of the peacekeeping mission on Friday, leading to its termination. The Secretary-General urged all parties involved to exercise restraint and avoid actions that could heighten tensions or destabilize the region.

The “liquidation phase” of the mission began on November 1, involving the return of assets to contributing nations. The Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara (MINURSO) was initially established in 1991 to oversee a ceasefire and prepare for a referendum on the territory’s future.

Morocco has maintained that Western Sahara is its territory since Spain’s withdrawal in 1975. The Polisario Front, backed by Algeria, advocates for an independent Sahrawi Republic on behalf of the Indigenous Sahrawi people.

A US-proposed resolution at the UNSC on Friday aimed to support self-determination in Western Sahara, extending the mission for a year and shifting the focus away from a referendum. The resolution, which would have also prioritized Morocco’s autonomy proposal, was vetoed by Russia, despite support from 11 of the 15 UNSC members, including France and the United Kingdom. A competing Russian resolution was also defeated.

Despite the mission’s conclusion, the United Nations stated its readiness to continue supporting dialog and a peaceful resolution. Morocco’s royal palace described the mission’s non-renewal as a significant step in removing the Western Sahara issue from UNSC consideration. Algeria’s Foreign Ministry expressed “deep regret,” attributing the outcome to a perceived bias towards Morocco. The Polisario Front voiced concern over the UNSC’s impasse.

US Ambassador to the UN, Mike Waltz, criticized the veto, stating it prioritized a letter in the mission’s name over progress. He argued the proposal would have advanced the 50-year conflict. Russia’s UN ambassador, Vassily Nebenzia, defended his country’s position, emphasizing that the Security Council should not predetermine matters of sovereignty.