UN Ends 35-Year Peacekeeping Mission in Western Sahara After Vetoes

The United Nations ended its 35-year peacekeeping mission in Western Sahara after the Security Council failed to agree on its future. Russia vetoed a United States resolution that would have endorsed Moroccan sovereignty over the disputed territory. A competing Russian proposal to extend the mandate of the mission, known as MINURSO, did not secure enough votes.

MINURSO was established in 1991 to monitor a ceasefire between Morocco and the Polisario Front and to prepare for a referendum on the territory’s status. The referendum has never been held. Morocco controls most of the territory and has offered autonomy under its sovereignty; the Polisario Front seeks independence. Algeria supports the Polisario position.

The U.S. resolution reflected Washington’s recognition of Moroccan sovereignty, a policy formalized in 2020. Russia’s veto blocked that approach. The failure of the extension proposal means the mission’s mandate expired without renewal. UN personnel and equipment will be withdrawn under existing procedures.

Western Sahara remains one of the world’s longest-running territorial disputes. Phosphate resources, fishing rights and the strategic position along the Atlantic coast have sustained international interest. Recent years have seen low-level tensions along the berm that separates Moroccan-controlled areas from Polisario-held zones, but large-scale fighting has been limited since the 1991 ceasefire.

The end of MINURSO removes the only continuous international monitoring presence on the ground. Neighboring states and regional organizations have not announced alternative arrangements. Morocco has stated that it will continue to administer the territory under its autonomy plan. The Polisario Front has reiterated its call for a self-determination process.

Security Council members expressed regret at the impasse but offered no immediate path to a new resolution. The episode illustrates the difficulty of resolving long-standing disputes when permanent members hold opposing positions. No timeline has been set for the complete withdrawal of UN assets.

Diplomatic contacts between the parties and interested states are expected to continue outside the Security Council framework. The practical effects on local populations will depend on how Morocco and the Polisario manage the post-mission period along the separation line.