Western Sahara: UN ‘stands ready’ to keep supporting peace efforts as MINURSO mission ends

The UN’s peacekeeping mission in Western Sahara, MINURSO, ended on October 31, 2026, after Russia vetoed a U.S.-backed resolution to extend its mandate, leaving the region’s decades-old conflict in limbo.

The expiration of MINURSO’s mandate marked a significant moment in the 50-year dispute over Western Sahara, a territory claimed by Morocco and the Algeria-backed Polisario Front. The mission, established in 1991 to monitor a ceasefire and facilitate a referendum on self-determination, had 155 military personnel and a 2026-2027 budget exceeding $62 million. Its closure followed a dispute between the U.S. and Russia at the UN Security Council, where Russia’s veto of a U.S. draft resolution blocked efforts to renew the mission’s authority.

Veto Ends UN Mission in Western Sahara

Morocco’s royal palace welcomed the non-renewal, framing it as a victory for its sovereignty claims. Meanwhile, the Polisario Front condemned the decision, calling it an unacceptable decision and accusing the U.S. of “excessive bias” toward Morocco. The Algerian Foreign Ministry similarly criticized the U.S. draft, stating it emptied the right to self-determination of its substance.

Morocco and Polisario Clash Over Western Sahara Claims

Since 1975, Morocco has administered most of Western Sahara, asserting historical ties to the territory. The Polisario Front, which seeks independence for the region, has operated from refugee camps in Algeria’s Tindouf area since the 1970s. The conflict escalated into an armed struggle in the 1980s, claiming over 16,000 lives before a 1991 ceasefire. MINURSO’s mandate was initially tied to a referendum, but disputes over voter eligibility stalled the process. The U.S. resolution aimed to advance Morocco’s autonomy plan, a move the Polisario condemned as undermining the mission’s purpose, according to Russia’s UN ambassador, Vassily Nebenzia.

The proposal for autonomy could end up becoming the main framework for negotiations, pushing independence further and further out of reach, said Selim Balouati Lakhloufi, a Moroccan historian. Morocco’s Foreign Ministry emphasized its full sovereignty over the territory, while the Polisario Front warned of full responsibility for weakening MINURSO’s mandate.

UN Urges Respect for Western Sahara Rights

The UN Secretary-General, Antonio Guterres, urged all parties to respect and promote the rights of the people of Western Sahara, while acknowledging the mission’s inalienable right to self-determination. However, the organization’s peacekeeping efforts will now rely on the Personal Envoy, Staffan de Mistura, to advance dialogue. The United Nations stands ready to continue supporting efforts to advance dialogue and pursue a peaceful resolution of the conflict, the UN stated.

Regional tensions threaten to escalate, with Algeria and Morocco’s diplomatic rift deepening. The Polisario Front’s Aisha Salem, a 24-year-old fighter, highlighted the human cost: We are tired of being refugees.

Uncertain Future for Western Sahara Conflict

As the region braces for uncertainty, the absence of a UN mandate leaves the fate of Western Sahara’s refugees—and the territory itself—in the hands of competing claims. The next steps, whether through diplomacy or conflict, will determine whether the 50-year dispute ends in peace or further division.