United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has expressed serious concern regarding the stability of the Western Sahara region following the official conclusion of the UN peacekeeping mission, known as MINURSO. The mission, which had been in operation since 1991 to monitor a ceasefire and facilitate a referendum on the territory’s future, reached its expiry date after the UN Security Council (UNSC) failed to pass a renewal mandate on Friday.
As of November 1, the United Nations has commenced the “liquidation phase” of the operation, which involves the transport of equipment and assets back to the various countries that contributed troops to the mission. In a statement issued on Sunday, Guterres’s spokesperson, Stephane Dujarric, noted the Secretary-General’s apprehension about the potential for hostilities to escalate across the disputed territory.
The impasse at the Security Council stemmed from a disagreement over the future of the mission and the political status of the region. A draft resolution proposed by the United States sought to extend the mandate by one year while removing the word “referendum” from the mission’s title and positioning Morocco’s autonomy proposal as the primary basis for future negotiations. Despite receiving support from 11 of the 15 council members, including permanent members France and the United Kingdom, the resolution was blocked by a Russian veto. A counter-resolution submitted by Russia was subsequently defeated, resulting in the mission’s expiration.
Morocco has claimed sovereignty over Western Sahara since the withdrawal of Spain from the region in 1975. Conversely, the Polisario Front, which is supported by Algeria, continues to advocate for the independence of the territory as the Sahrawi Republic. Following the expiration of the mission, the Moroccan royal palace characterized the development as a significant step in removing the issue from the Security Council's direct consideration.
The regional response to the end of the mission has been divided. The Algerian Foreign Ministry expressed “deep regret” over the outcome, publicly criticizing the United States for what it termed “excessive bias” toward the Moroccan position. Meanwhile, the Polisario Front issued a statement acknowledging their concern regarding the political deadlock within the Security Council.
During the session, US Ambassador to the UN Mike Waltz voiced frustration over the veto, stating that the decision hindered efforts to move past a conflict that has persisted for 50 years. In response, Russia’s UN ambassador, Vassily Nebenzia, argued that Moscow could not support a proposal that appeared to favour one party. He emphasized that the Security Council should not be in a position to “automatically predetermine matters relating to sovereignty.”
Despite the cessation of peacekeeping operations, the United Nations has maintained that it remains committed to supporting dialogue. “While MINURSO’s peacekeeping operations have concluded, the United Nations stands ready to continue supporting efforts to advance dialogue and pursue a peaceful resolution of the conflict,” Guterres stated on Sunday. The Secretary-General has urged all involved parties to exercise maximum restraint and avoid any actions that could further undermine regional stability during this transition period.
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