The United Nations has initiated the liquidation of its MINURSO mission in Western Sahara, following the expiration of its mandate on Saturday. According to a statement by UN spokesperson Stephane Dujarric, a small team from the UN's Operational Support Department will oversee the organized transfer of assets to contributing countries and the disposal of UN equipment. The MINURSO mission was established in 1991 and had 359 personnel until June 2026.
The UN Secretary-General, Antonio Guterres, expressed concern over the risk of escalating hostilities in Western Sahara and urged parties to exercise maximum restraint. He emphasized the importance of respecting and promoting the rights of the Western Saharan people, particularly their inalienable right to self-determination. Guterres also stated that the UN remains committed to supporting efforts to promote dialogue and a peaceful resolution to the conflict through his personal envoy, Staffan de Mistura.
The MINURSO mission's mandate expired on Saturday after the Security Council failed to renew it. Russia used its veto power against a US-drafted resolution that would have extended the mission's mandate for another year. The resolution had the support of 11 out of 15 Security Council members, with the US, UK, and France backing the plan. The resolution would have placed Morocco's autonomy plan at the center of a negotiated settlement to the conflict.
The liquidation process will involve the transfer of assets and equipment to contributing countries or their disposal in a suitable manner. The UN team will ensure that the process is carried out in an organized and efficient manner. The MINURSO mission had been present in Western Sahara since 1991, with a mandate to monitor the ceasefire and facilitate a referendum on the territory's future.
The failure to renew the MINURSO mandate has raised concerns about the impact on the peace process in Western Sahara. The conflict has been ongoing for decades, with Morocco and the Polisario Front disputing control over the territory. The UN has been involved in efforts to resolve the conflict, but a lasting solution has yet to be found.
The situation in Western Sahara remains volatile, with tensions between Morocco and the Polisario Front. The UN's commitment to supporting a peaceful resolution to the conflict remains, but the liquidation of the MINURSO mission has created uncertainty about the future of the peace process. The international community continues to call for a negotiated settlement to the conflict.
The UN's decision to liquidate the MINURSO mission marks a significant development in the Western Sahara conflict. The focus now shifts to the efforts of the UN's personal envoy, Staffan de Mistura, to promote dialogue and a peaceful resolution to the conflict. The situation in Western Sahara remains a pressing concern for the international community, with a lasting solution yet to be found.
Key points
- The UN has started liquidating its MINURSO mission in Western Sahara following the expiration of its mandate.
- The failure to renew the mandate has raised concerns about the impact on the peace process in Western Sahara.
- The UN remains committed to supporting efforts to promote dialogue and a peaceful resolution to the conflict.
