In brief
The UN’s MINURSO peacekeeping force in Western Sahara is set to wind down on November 1, 2026, after the Security Council failed to renew its mandate. Morocco welcomed the move, citing the adoption of a U.S.-drafted resolution favoring Moroccan autonomy for the territory, while Algeria‑backed Polisario Front expressed concern over the unresolved conflict and the lack of a referendum. Russia, which vetoed a competing resolution, criticized the U.S. approach and highlighted its own objections to the mission’s continued role.
On Sunday, United Nations Secretary‑General Antonio Guterres announced that the 35‑year‑old MINURSO peacekeeping mission in Western Sahara would wind down after the Security Council failed to grant a new mandate, with the liquidation phase slated for November 1, 2026.
Reuters reported that the decision followed a sequence of votes in which a U.S.‑drafted resolution accepted Morocco’s plan to provide autonomy under Moroccan sovereignty as the "most feasible" solution. The resolution marked a step toward ending the long‑standing dispute but did not include a referendum, an element that MINURSO had been tasked with organizing since 1991.
Morocco’s Foreign Minister Nasser Bourita welcomed the outcome, describing the mission’s reference to a referendum – the "R" in MINURSO – as an "anachronism." He said the country had known that Russia intended to block the U.S. resolution and viewed the non‑renewal as "an opportunity to review certain rules of the game." The Moroccan foreign ministry later called the decision a "significant development" that would withdraw West African matters from Security Council consideration.
Nasser Bourita told state media the "R" referring to a referendum was an anachronism.
In contrast, the Polisario Front, an Algeria‑backed movement that seeks independence for Western Sahara, released a statement expressing deep concern.
The Polisario said it was "concerned at the deadlock in the Security Council meeting."
Polisario spokesman Abdulrahman el‑Jabri warned that the mission’s end could leave the territory without a legitimate path to self‑determination, lending credence to fears that consensus over voter eligibility, a source of dispute since the 1991 ceasefire, will remain unresolved.
Russia’s stance was also pivotal; the country had abstained from the vote on the U.S. resolution last year but vetoed a new U.S.-backed motion this year that would have formalized the UN’s preference for Moroccan autonomy while scaling down MINURSO. Russian diplomats argued the push for a referendum was essential and that the peacekeeping force should remain to ensure compliance with the ceasefire.
Algerian Foreign Ministry officials expressed "deep regret" over the non‑renewal, blaming what they described as the "excessive bias" of the United States toward Morocco. Algeria’s government called for renewed dialogue to address the stalemate.
UN officials noted that the liquidation phase will involve transferring MINURSO assets back to troop‑contributing countries. The final phase will see the mission’s personnel and equipment removed, marking the end of the United Nations’ presence in the region. Ministerial statements and media coverage reflect a split between parties that view the strategy as a realignment toward Moroccan sovereignty and those that see it as a deprioritization of a negotiated settlement.
