Western Sahara: Morocco welcomes UN withdrawal after veto
The UN peacekeeping mission Minurso has ended following a Russian veto, prompting celebrations in Rabat and concerns over regional security.
By Aiko Brooks ·
Morocco has officially welcomed the end of the United Nations Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara. The decades-long peacekeeping operation, known as Minurso, ceased operations after the UN Security Council failed to reach an agreement on its extension. This development follows a deadlock between American and Russian proposals regarding the future of the mandate.
The mission's mandate expired on Saturday, October 31. The UN announced the next day that the operation was entering a liquidation phase. A reduced team will now manage the transfer of equipment and assets. Morocco requested that all personnel and equipment depart within days. It also stated that the dispute should be removed from the Security Council's agenda.
On Friday, the council voted on a US draft proposal to extend Minurso for another year. Eleven of the fifteen members supported the measure, including France and the UK. The proposal would have removed the word "referendum" from the mission's name and designated Morocco's autonomy plan as the sole basis for talks. Russia vetoed the draft, arguing it favored Morocco excessively. A competing Russian draft to retain existing terms received only two supporting votes.
Celebrations erupted in Laayoune, the territory's largest city. Residents displayed Moroccan flags and portraits of King Mohammed VI. House of Representatives Speaker Ahmed Touizi addressed a joint parliamentary session on Monday. He described the outcome as a diplomatic victory and called for the implementation of Morocco's autonomy plan alongside new development projects.
The territory has been disputed since 1975, when Spain ended its colonial rule. Morocco and Mauritania both claimed the land, which possesses phosphate deposits and Atlantic fishing rights. An International Court of Justice ruling recognized historical ties but affirmed Sahrawi self-determination. Mauritania dropped its claim in 1979, while Morocco continued its conflict with the Polisario Front.
Minurso was established in 1991 to monitor a ceasefire and organize a referendum that never took place. Polisario resumed armed struggle in November 2020. Morocco's 2007 autonomy proposal grants internal administrative control to Sahrawis while Rabat retains control over defense and foreign relations. Algeria and Polisario have rejected this framework, insisting on independence as a viable option.
Moroccan Foreign Minister Nasser Bourita stated that the ceasefire remains in effect. He affirmed Rabat's commitment to the process, subject to respect for its security and sovereignty. International experts warn that the UN departure could create security gaps. Oxfam cautioned that the loss of monitoring efforts could harm civilian stability. Polisario has not yet announced its next moves, though renewed conflict could draw in Algeria, which hosts Sahrawi refugee camps near Tindouf.
