The United Nations has begun what it called “the beginning of a liquidation period” for its mission for the referendum in Western Sahara, “MINURSO,” as it announced on Sunday, after the Security Council did not renew its mandate, while Secretary-General António Guterres affirmed that the United Nations “remains ready to continue its support for efforts aimed at promoting dialogue and reaching a peaceful settlement of the conflict.” The decision comes after more than three decades of the mission's presence in the region.
Published on: 01/11/2026 - 16:57 Last updated: 01/11/2026 - 17:06
After more than three decades of its presence in Western Sahara, the “liquidation period” of the Western Sahara Referendum Mission (MINURSO) has begun, according to what the United Nations announced on Sunday, after the Security Council did not renew its mandate, in a move that came as a surprise to everyone.
The spokesman for the Secretary-General, Stephane Dujarric, said in a statement that during this period, “a small team affiliated with the United Nations Department of Operational Support will supervise the orderly transfer of assets belonging to troop-contributing countries to their countries, as well as the transfer or disposal of United Nations equipment in the appropriate manner.”
Read also: Western Sahara: A Russian and an American veto prevent the renewal of the UN mission’s mandate
"Danger of escalation of hostilities"
In the statement, Secretary-General António Guterres urged “respect and promotion of the rights of the people of Western Sahara,” in particular their “inalienable right to self-determination.” He also expressed his "concern...about the risk of escalation of hostilities," and called on the parties to "exercise the utmost restraint."
He stressed that the United Nations "remains ready to continue its support for efforts aimed at promoting dialogue and reaching a peaceful settlement of the conflict, through the Personal Envoy of the Secretary-General, Staffan de Mistura."
End of the mandate of the United Nations mission
The mandate of the United Nations Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara (MINURSO), which was established in 1991 and included 359 members of the civilian and military components until June 2026, ended at midnight on Saturday, according to its website.
The mission's mandate was not renewed on Friday after Russia used its veto against a draft American resolution. The text was supported by eleven out of fifteen members of the UN Security Council, and provided for the extension of the mission for a year, and placed the Moroccan autonomy plan at the heart of the settlement of the five-decade-long conflict between Rabat and the Polisario Front, supported by Algeria.
Read also: Western Sahara: Algeria regrets not renewing the mandate of the UN mission, and Morocco welcomes it
The autonomy plan and Russia's justification for the right of veto
The plan presented by Morocco in 2007 provides for granting autonomy, under its sovereignty, to the Sahrawi region, which is rich in phosphate and marine resources.
Russia justified its use of its veto against the draft resolution by rejecting the "unilateral approach" and proposed extending the mission's mandate under the same conditions that existed previously.
The United States voted against the Russian proposal, while countries that supported the American draft resolution abstained from voting.
Western Sahara was a Spanish colony until 1975, and most of its territory is under the control of Morocco, and the United Nations classifies it as “non-self-governing territories.”
France 24/AFP
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