The United Nations' long-running peacekeeping mission for Western Sahara ceased operations on Sunday, marking the end of a 35-year presence in the disputed territory. The mission's expiration raises concerns about stability in the region, which is rich in minerals and fisheries. Western Sahara is a vast desert territory along Africa's northwestern Atlantic coast, roughly the size of Colorado. The territory is claimed by both Morocco and the pro-independence Polisario Front.
The UN Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara, known as MINURSO, was established in 1991 to monitor a referendum on self-determination. However, the vote never materialized due to disagreements over the voter list. Morocco wanted the list to include Sahrawis living in the territory it controls, while the Polisario Front objected, arguing that this would tilt the outcome toward integration with Morocco. The mission had been repeatedly extended since its establishment.
The end of the mission comes after a US-Russia standoff at UN headquarters over the territory's future. On Friday, Russia vetoed a draft US resolution that would have supported Morocco's demand for sovereignty over Western Sahara and ended the peacekeeping mission next year. A rival Russian resolution to extend the mission was then voted down, leading to an abrupt end to the force's mandate. Morocco welcomed the non-renewal of the mission, while the Polisario Front and Algeria criticized the decision.
Western Sahara is Africa's longest territorial dispute, with the UN classifying it as a "non-self-governing territory." Critics of Morocco's control describe it as Africa's last colony. Morocco administers nearly all of the disputed territory, except for a narrow strip known as the "free zone" east of a Moroccan-built sand wall. The dispute escalated into an armed conflict that lasted over 15 years, claiming more than 16,000 lives on both sides.
The Polisario Front seeks independence for Western Sahara, which it considers the homeland of the Indigenous Sahrawi people. The movement operates from refugee camps in the Algerian city of Tindouf and aims to establish an independent Sahrawi Republic. The Polisario Front is backed by Algeria, Russia, and South Africa, but its international support has dwindled in recent years. Morocco, on the other hand, has secured the backing of several Western capitals, including Washington, Paris, and London.
As the mission ends, the UN secretary-general has called upon all parties to respect and promote the rights of the people of Western Sahara. The secretary-general remains concerned about the security situation throughout the territory and the risk of escalation of hostilities. The UN force was authorized to have 534 personnel, and its 2026-2027 budget was over $62 million. Twenty MINURSO personnel lost their lives during the mission.
The end of the mission risks further straining ties between regional heavyweights Morocco and Algeria, which severed diplomatic relations in 2021. Algiers sees full Moroccan sovereignty over Western Sahara as a major diplomatic defeat. The territory remains a major flashpoint in the rivalry between the two countries, with the Polisario Front challenging Morocco's control.
Key points
- The UN peacekeeping mission in Western Sahara ended after 35 years due to a US-Russia standoff.
- The mission's expiration raises concerns about regional stability and the future of Western Sahara.
- The dispute over Western Sahara is Africa's longest territorial dispute, with Morocco and the Polisario Front claiming sovereignty over the territory.
