Russia and US veto rival UN resolutions on Western Sahara

Summarised from 2 outlets · Updated 31 Oct, 03:20 · Archive

Russia and the United States have vetoed conflicting resolutions at the Security Council over a UN peacekeeping mission in Western Sahara, leaving it without a renewed mandate.

Russia and the United States have vetoed rival resolutions on Western Sahara at the UN Security Council, leaving the 35-year-old UN peacekeeping mission without a renewed mandate just a day before it expires. This unusual showdown threatens the future of a mission the council has routinely renewed for decades.

The dispute centres on Western Sahara, most of which is controlled by Morocco but claimed by the Algeria-backed Polisario Front, which seeks an independent state. The US-drafted resolution would have extended the mission for another year while cementing Morocco's autonomy plan as the only basis for talks to settle the half-century-old conflict and scaling back its military component. Russia vetoed this resolution. The United States then vetoed a Russian draft that would have extended the mission's mandate for another year without those changes.

Morocco's royal palace welcomed the non-renewal, saying its personnel and equipment should leave Western Sahara in the coming days. Morocco said it remained committed to the ceasefire in the territory. Polisario representative Sidi Omar thanked Russia for vetoing what he said would 'torpedo the foundations of the UN peace process'. Oxfam warned that losing the mission could put refugees at risk. Low-level hostilities have persisted since Polisario said in November 2020 that it was resuming 'armed struggle'.

How it is being reported

• Peacekeeping mission in limbo as nations spar at UNRussia has vetoed a US resolution that would have supported Morocco's demand for sovereignty over Western Sahara and ended a 35-year UN peacekeeping mission.Perth Now · 31 Oct, 02:57
• Peacekeeping mission in limbo as nations spar at UNRussia has vetoed a US resolution that would have supported Morocco's demand for sovereignty over Western Sahara and ended a 35-year UN peacekeeping mission.The West Australian · 31 Oct, 02:57

In this story: Russia · United States · Morocco · Western Sahara · Polisario Front · Algeria · UN Security Council

This summary was written by AI from the headlines and standfirsts above, and states as fact only what at least two outlets report. How we use AI · Report a problem · Corrections log