UN peacekeeping mission in Western Sahara mandate expires

Summarised from 2 outlets · Updated 1 Nov, 15:10 · Archive

The UN peacekeeping mission in Western Sahara will expire after Russia and the United States vetoed competing resolutions to extend it.

The mandate of the UN peacekeeping mission in Western Sahara expired on Saturday after Russia and the United States vetoed competing resolutions at the UN Security Council. The mission, known as MINURSO, was established in 1991 to oversee a ceasefire and hold a referendum on the territory's future.

On Friday, the United States tabled a draft resolution to extend the mandate for one year. The proposal would have removed 'referendum' from the mission's name and made Morocco's autonomy plan the only basis for further negotiations. Eleven of the fifteen Security Council members voted in favour, including fellow permanent members France and the United Kingdom, but Russia vetoed it. Russia's permanent representative said the Security Council 'cannot automatically pre-determine matters relating to sovereignty' and that it 'must not give a blessing to such a one-sided approach'.

Morocco, which has claimed Western Sahara as its territory since 1975, welcomed the defeat of the US resolution. The pro-independence Polisario Front, backed by Algeria and representing the indigenous Sahrawi people, seeks to establish an independent state called the Sahrawi Republic. Last October, the UN Security Council backed Morocco's autonomy proposal as the 'most feasible' solution for the disputed territory.

How it is being reported

• Why is Morocco celebrating the defeat of a UN resolution on Western Sahara?Mandate expires for UN mission tasked to monitor 1991 truce and hold a referendum in the disputed territory.Al Jazeera · 1 Nov, 14:26
• UN peacekeeping mission in Western Sahara to expire amid US, Russia vetoesThe mandate of the UN peacekeeping force in Western Sahara will expire on October 31. The UN Security Council could not agree on a resolution to extend the mission.DW News · 31 Oct, 04:24

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

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