UN peacekeeping mission in Western Sahara ends after 35 years

Summarised from 2 outlets · 4 reports · Updated 2 Nov, 01:14 · Archive

The United Nations peacekeeping mission in Western Sahara has ceased operations after 35 years following a US-Russia standoff at the Security Council.

Russia vetoed a US-drafted resolution on Friday that would have supported Morocco's demand for sovereignty over Western Sahara and terminated the peacekeeping mission. The Security Council then voted down a Russian resolution to extend the mission for another year, receiving only 3 yes votes with 11 abstentions—short of the nine votes required. The mission's mandate expired, with liquidation beginning on 1 November 2026.

Western Sahara is a mineral and oil-rich territory along Africa's northwestern coast, roughly the size of Colorado. Morocco annexed it in 1975, sparking conflict with the Polisario Front, which represents the indigenous Sahrawi people. The UN brokered a ceasefire in 1991 and established the peacekeeping mission to monitor it and prepare a referendum on the territory's future, which has never been held due to disagreements over voter eligibility.

Morocco's royal palace welcomed the mission's end, calling it an 'instrument to internationalize the dispute'. The Polisario Front, backed by Algeria, called it 'an unacceptable decision'. Algeria's foreign ministry criticised what it termed the 'excessive bias' of the US resolution. The US, Britain and France back Morocco's autonomy proposal as a basis for negotiations, while Russia and China have favoured a referendum including independence as an option.

How it is being reported

• UN’s peacekeeping mission in Western Sahara ends after 35 years following US-Russia standoffThe U.N.'s peacekeeping mission in Western Sahara has ended after 35 years due to a U.S.-Russia standoff.Clickorlando · 1 Nov, 18:34
• UN’s peacekeeping mission in Western Sahara ends after 35 years following US-Russia standoffThe U.N.'s peacekeeping mission in Western Sahara has ended after 35 years due to a U.S.-Russia standoff.News4Jax · 1 Nov, 18:34
• Rival US and Russia resolutions on disputed Western Sahara are defeated in UN Security CouncilRussia has vetoed a U.S.-drafted resolution that would have supported Morocco’s demand for sovereignty over the disputed Western Sahara.News4Jax · 30 Oct, 21:48
• Rival US and Russia resolutions on disputed Western Sahara are defeated in UN Security CouncilRussia has vetoed a U.S.-drafted resolution that would have supported Morocco’s demand for sovereignty over the disputed Western Sahara.Clickorlando · 30 Oct, 21:48

In this story: Morocco · Western Sahara · Russia · United States · Polisario Front · Algeria · United Nations

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