The UN General Assembly is set to convene a special session on Tuesday, November 10, 2026, to discuss Russia's use of its veto power against a US-led resolution to renew the mandate of the MINURSO mission. The session is a procedural move that focuses on the use of the veto in the Security Council. The MINURSO mission has been a crucial part of the UN's efforts in the Western Sahara region.
The Russian veto was cast on a resolution that had garnered support from 11 members of the Security Council. This move triggered the UN General Assembly to convene a session under a 2022 resolution that aims to bring transparency and accountability to the use of veto power by the five permanent members of the Security Council. The resolution, initiated by Liechtenstein, seeks to review the use of veto power in public.
The 2022 resolution, numbered 76/262, was adopted on April 26, 2022, and has been invoked 15 times since then on various issues, including Ukraine, Syria, Iran, and Mali. This mechanism requires an automatic debate in the General Assembly within ten working days of the use of veto power, allowing the country that used the veto to explain its actions to the international community.
The session on November 10 is part of an established institutional process and does not aim to revisit or review the Security Council's decision on MINURSO. The goal is to raise the political and diplomatic costs of relying on the veto and work towards limiting its use in the long term. The discussion will not lead to an automatic adoption of a new resolution.
The debate will be based on an objective report prepared under the authority of the President of the General Assembly, without drafting decisions or recommendations. The report will be submitted to the President of the Security Council as part of the ongoing institutional dialogue between the two UN bodies.
Morocco, as a key player in the Western Sahara issue, is closely following the developments. The UN General Assembly's discussion on Russia's veto highlights the complexities of international diplomacy and the use of veto power in the Security Council. The session will provide an opportunity for member states to engage in a public discussion on the matter.
The outcome of the discussion remains to be seen, but it is clear that the use of veto power by Russia has sparked a significant reaction from the international community. The UN General Assembly's session will provide a platform for countries to express their views and concerns on the matter, and for Russia to justify its actions.
Key points
- The UN General Assembly is discussing Russia's veto on the MINURSO mandate renewal under a 2022 resolution aimed at increasing transparency and accountability in the use of veto power.
