The United Nations has begun winding down its peacekeeping mission in Western Sahara after the Security Council failed to renew its mandate, bringing an end to a 35-year operation established to monitor a ceasefire and support efforts towards resolving the territory’s political status.
UN Secretary-General António Guterres said November 1 marked the beginning of the mission’s liquidation period, during which its assets will be withdrawn and returned to troop-contributing countries.
The mission, known as the United Nations Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara (MINURSO), was established in 1991 following a ceasefire between Morocco and the Algeria-backed Polisario Front.
According to Reuters’ report on the mission’s closure, the Security Council’s failure to renew the mandate followed disagreements over competing proposals from the United States and Russia.
Disagreement Over Western Sahara’s Political Future
Western Sahara, a former Spanish colony, is largely administered by Morocco, which claims sovereignty over the territory. The Polisario Front, however, seeks independence and has long demanded a referendum on self determination.
MINURSO was established to monitor the 1991 ceasefire and organise a referendum on the territory’s future. However, disagreements over voter eligibility prevented the vote from taking place.
The latest dispute at the Security Council centred on a US-backed resolution that supported Morocco’s autonomy proposal and sought to reshape the UN’s approach to the conflict. Russia vetoed the resolution, while a separate Russian proposal to extend the peacekeeping mission was also rejected.
The Associated Press reported that Morocco welcomed the mission’s end, while the Polisario Front and Algeria criticised the outcome.
Concerns Over Regional Stability
The closure has raised concerns about the future of monitoring arrangements in a territory where tensions have persisted despite the 1991 ceasefire.
The Polisario Front withdrew from the ceasefire in 2020, and low-level hostilities have continued. The end of MINURSO’s presence could therefore complicate efforts to monitor developments and prevent further escalation.
However, the end of the peacekeeping operation does not mean the United Nations has abandoned diplomatic efforts. In a statement published on November 1, the UN said it remained committed to supporting a political solution that is just, lasting and acceptable to the parties, while respecting the right of the people of Western Sahara to self-determination.
