The Algerian government has expressed deep regret over the United Nations' decision not to renew the mandate of the MINURSO mission, which was responsible for organizing a referendum in Western Sahara. The decision was made on October 31, 2026, and was announced by the Algerian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. According to the ministry, the non-renewal of the mandate was a result of an unbalanced draft resolution that favored one party over the other.
The Algerian Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated that the draft resolution was biased in favor of the Moroccan Kingdom, to the detriment of the Polisario Front, the legitimate representative of the Sahrawi people. The ministry expressed concern that the decision would undermine the efforts to find a fair and lasting solution to the Western Sahara conflict. The ministry also noted that the decision would have serious consequences for the region and would not contribute to the establishment of peace and stability.
Before the draft resolution was put to a vote, Algerian Minister of State for Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, sent letters to members of the UN Security Council, highlighting the serious consequences of the developments in Western Sahara. The minister warned of the risks of adopting a resolution that would legitimize the current situation in Western Sahara and undermine the Sahrawi people's right to self-determination.
The Algerian Ministry of Foreign Affairs also expressed regret over the deletion of the term "referendum" from the MINURSO mission's acronym. According to the ministry, this change constitutes a political signal that is cause for concern, as it excludes the option of a referendum, which has historically been associated with the mission's mandate and the Sahrawi people's right to self-determination.
The ministry also noted that the draft resolution would have transformed the Western Sahara conflict from a decolonization issue to a humanitarian problem, which would require a different approach to finding a solution. However, the ministry emphasized that a lasting solution to the conflict can only be achieved by allowing the Sahrawi people to exercise their inalienable right to self-determination.
The Algerian government reiterated its commitment to finding a fair, lasting, and mutually acceptable political solution to the Western Sahara conflict, which would allow the Sahrawi people to exercise their right to self-determination in accordance with the principles and purposes of the UN Charter and relevant UN resolutions.
The Algerian government's position on the Western Sahara conflict remains unchanged, and it continues to support the efforts of the UN to find a peaceful solution to the conflict. The government also called on the international community to support the efforts to find a lasting solution to the conflict and to ensure the Sahrawi people's right to self-determination.
Key points
- The Algerian government expressed deep regret over the UN's decision not to renew the mandate of the MINURSO mission.
- The decision was made due to an unbalanced draft resolution that favored one party over the other.
- The Algerian government reiterated its commitment to finding a fair, lasting, and mutually acceptable political solution to the Western Sahara conflict.
