By Ebi Kesiena
The United Nations peacekeeping mission in Western Sahara has officially ended after 35 years, following a diplomatic standoff between the United States and Russia at the UN Security Council over the future of the disputed territory.
The termination of the mission, known as the United Nations Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara (MINURSO), raises fresh concerns about regional stability and the possibility of renewed hostilities between Morocco and the pro-independence Polisario Front.
UN Secretary-General’s spokesperson, Stéphane Dujarric, said November 1, 2026, marked the beginning of the mission’s liquidation period, with a smaller UN team overseeing the withdrawal of military assets and disposal of equipment.
The mission’s termination followed disagreements at the Security Council, where Russia vetoed a US-sponsored resolution supporting Morocco’s sovereignty claims and proposing an end to the mission next year, meanwhile a competing Russian resolution seeking an extension was subsequently rejected.
Morocco welcomed the decision, describing MINURSO as an instrument for internationalising the dispute, while the Polisario Front condemned it as unacceptable. Algeria also expressed regret over the non-renewal, accusing Washington of excessive bias.
Western Sahara, Africa’s longest-running territorial dispute, was annexed by Morocco in 1975 following Spain’s withdrawal. The Polisario Front, backed principally by Algeria, seeks independence for the territory and the establishment of a Sahrawi Republic.
A UN-brokered ceasefire in 1991 established MINURSO to monitor the truce and facilitate a referendum on self-determination.
However, disagreements over voter eligibility prevented the referendum from taking place.
The ceasefire collapsed in 2020, with low-intensity hostilities continuing between Morocco and the Polisario.
The UN Secretary-General has called on all parties to respect the rights of Western Sahara’s people and exercise maximum restraint, warning of the risk of escalating hostilities.
