UN Peacekeeping Mission in Western Sahara Winds Down After 35 Years

The United Nations peacekeeping mission in Western Sahara, known as MINURSO, has begun winding down after 35 years of operations following a failure by the UN Security Council to renew its mandate.

The mission’s mandate expired on October 31, 2026, after competing proposals by the United States and Russia failed to secure approval at the Security Council. The development marks a major turning point in the long running territorial dispute involving Morocco and the pro-independence Polisario Front.

Why Did the UN Mission End?

• The crisis emerged during a Security Council meeting on October 30, when members considered extending MINURSO’s mandate.
• The United States introduced a draft resolution proposing a one-year extension while supporting Morocco’s autonomy plan as the basis for negotiations over Western Sahara.
• The proposal received 11 votes in favour but was vetoed by Russia. China, Pakistan and Somalia abstained.
• Russia subsequently introduced an alternative resolution seeking to extend the mission’s existing mandate until October 31, 2027. However, the proposal received only three votes in favour, with the United States voting against it and 11 members abstaining.
• As a result, neither proposal was adopted, leaving the mission without an extended mandate.

What Was MINURSO Established to Do?

MINURSO stands for the United Nations Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara. It was established in April 1991 under UN Security Council Resolution 690.

The mission was created following a UN-brokered ceasefire between Morocco and the Polisario Front, with two main responsibilities:

However, the proposed referendum never took place because Morocco and the Polisario Front could not agree on voter eligibility and other conditions.

The mission continued operating for more than three decades despite the unresolved political dispute.

Understanding the Western Sahara Dispute

• Western Sahara is a disputed territory in northwestern Africa along the Atlantic coast. The conflict dates back to 1975, when Spain ended its colonial administration.
• Morocco subsequently took control of most of the territory, while the Polisario Front emerged as a movement seeking independence and the establishment of an independent Sahrawi state.
• The two sides fought an armed conflict until the 1991 ceasefire.
• Algeria has supported the Polisario Front and hosts Sahrawi refugee camps, while Morocco maintains that Western Sahara should remain under its sovereignty with an autonomy arrangement.
• The dispute has also contributed to longstanding diplomatic tensions between Morocco and Algeria, whose diplomatic relations were severed in 2021.

UN Begins Liquidation Process

• On November 1, the United Nations confirmed that MINURSO had entered its liquidation phase.
• According to UN spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric, a smaller team operating under the UN Department of Operational Support will oversee the orderly transportation of equipment belonging to troop contributing countries back to their respective nations.
• The team will also supervise the disposal of equipment owned by the United Nations.
• The mission’s operational activities have ended, but the liquidation process will take time to complete.
• Importantly, the closure of MINURSO does not mean that the United Nations has abandoned its diplomatic efforts or that the territorial dispute has been resolved.

UN Secretary-General Warns of Possible Regional Escalation

• UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres expressed concern over the security situation in Western Sahara and warned about the possibility of renewed hostilities.
• He called on all parties to exercise maximum restraint and avoid actions that could increase tensions or threaten regional stability.
• Guterres also reaffirmed that the people of Western Sahara retain their right to self determination.
• The United Nations stated that it would continue supporting efforts towards a just, lasting and mutually acceptable political solution through the Secretary General’s Personal Envoy, Staffan de Mistura.
• The UN also paid tribute to the 20 personnel who lost their lives while serving with MINURSO.

What Happens Next?

• The end of MINURSO’s peacekeeping operations raises questions about ceasefire monitoring, regional security and the future of negotiations.
• The absence of the mission’s monitoring and de-escalation functions could increase the risk of tensions between Morocco and the Polisario Front.
• The development also highlights divisions among major international powers over how the Western Sahara dispute should be resolved.
• Although the peacekeeping mission has ended, the political question surrounding the territory remains unresolved.
• The central challenge for the international community will be to prevent renewed conflict while ensuring that a peaceful political process continues and the rights of the people of Western Sahara are addressed.

Source: United Nations, UN Security Council and international news reports.