A UN peacekeeping mission in Western Sahara ended after a mandate renewal failure
MINURSO, the UN’s 35-year peacekeeping mission in Western Sahara, ended after the Security Council failed to renew its mandate, which expired October 31. Russia vetoed a U.S.-drafted resolution, while a rival Russian proposal failed to win enough votes. A reduced UN team will oversee liquidation. UN peace efforts will continue through the Secretary-General’s Personal Envoy, Staffan de Mistura.
More context
MINURSO’s 35-year peacekeeping operation in Western Sahara ended after the UN Security Council failed to renew its mandate, which expired on October 31. The United Nations began a liquidation period on November 1, with a smaller team to oversee the orderly return of equipment belonging to troop-contributing countries and the disposal of UN-owned assets, UN Secretary-General spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric said.
Russia vetoed a U.S.-drafted resolution on Friday; 11 council members voted in favor and three abstained. A rival Russian text to extend the mission through October 31, 2027, received three votes, short of the nine needed for adoption.
Morocco welcomed the decision, while the Algeria-backed Polisario Front called it “unacceptable,” France 24 reported. The UN said it would continue supporting peace efforts through the Secretary-General’s Personal Envoy, Staffan de Mistura.
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Reporting
- France 24 — UN’s peacekeeping mission in disputed Western Sahara ends after 35 years - France 24
- teleSUR English — Western Sahara MINURSO Withdrawal: 35-Year UN Mission Begins Shutdown - teleSUR English
- TRT World — UN raises alarm over violence in Western Sahara after peacekeeping mandate expires - TRT World
- Reuters — UN peacekeeping mission in Western Sahara ends after 35 years, UN chief says
- moroccoworldnews.com — Western Sahara: MINURSO Mandate Officially Ends After 35 Years
- un.org — Western Sahara: UN ‘stands ready’ to keep supporting peace efforts as MINURSO mission ends | UN News
Verifier’s note
France 24, Morocco World News, teleSUR English, UN News, TRT World, and Reuters report that MINURSO’s peacekeeping operations or mandate ended after 35 years. The Arkansas Democrat-Gazette reports on a veto of a resolution that would have ended the mission next year, not on the subsequent shutdown.