UN Security Council rejects competing resolutions on Western Sahara

Simultaneously, a Russian-drafted resolution to extend the mandate of the existing peacekeeping operation for another year was defeated, receiving only three affirmative votes out of the required nine. This outcome prevented the United States from needing to utilize its veto power.

The peacekeeping mission’s authorization is set to expire on Saturday unless an agreement is reached to reinstate it.

Morocco took control of Western Sahara, a former Spanish colony, in 1975, initiating a conflict with the Polisario Front, which represents the Sahrawi people. A ceasefire was established in 1991, leading to the creation of a U.N. mission intended to oversee the truce and facilitate a referendum on the territory’s future, a referendum that has never occurred due to disagreements about voter eligibility.

Last year, the Security Council approved a resolution supporting Morocco’s claim to Western Sahara, a notable shift in policy. This resolution emphasized autonomy under Moroccan sovereignty and omitted any reference to a referendum.

The U.S. resolution sought to end the peacekeeping mission in 2027 and establish a new political mission that would not prepare for a referendum, explicitly stating that autonomy under Moroccan sovereignty was the only viable solution.

The Russian proposal simply aimed to extend the current peacekeeping mission’s mandate until October 2027.

A representative of the Polisario Front expressed concerns in a recent letter, describing the U.S. draft as a “dangerous departure” from international law and the established peace process, warning it could lead to instability. The representative emphasized the International Court of Justice’s recognition of the Sahrawi people’s right to self-determination and independence.