US Ambassador to the United Nations, Mike Waltz, has stated that the MINURSO, a UN peacekeeping mission in Western Sahara, has become a symbol of a project that is doomed to fail. Waltz made the remarks before the UN Security Council on Friday, explaining the US decision not to support the renewal of the mission's mandate. He emphasized that the mission has not achieved its objectives over the past 35 years.
Waltz pointed out that the MINURSO has not been able to achieve its initial goal, and its mandate has been renewed year after year without any tangible results. He noted that the mission's personnel spend around 80% of their time on logistics and replenishment, rather than on achieving its objectives. This, he said, is a clear indication that the mission is not viable.
The US Ambassador recalled that in 2002, former UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan proposed to the Security Council that the MINURSO's mandate be terminated. However, 24 years later, the mission is still operational, and the situation on the ground has not changed. Waltz expressed regret that thousands of people remain stranded in the Tindouf camps, where many suffer from poverty and malnutrition.
Waltz highlighted the dire humanitarian situation in the Tindouf camps, citing UN reports that two-thirds of children under five suffer from anemia, and one-third experience stunted growth. He also noted that only 10% of children in the camps receive an acceptable minimum diet. The Ambassador described the situation as "heartbreaking" and emphasized that a whole generation has grown up in these camps.
Waltz urged the international community not to maintain the status quo, which would condemn another generation to living in similar conditions. Instead, he called for renewed diplomatic efforts to find a solution to the conflict. He noted that US President Donald Trump had helped bring the parties back to the negotiating table, alongside the UN and the Personal Envoy of the Secretary-General.
The US Ambassador emphasized that the international community must try a new approach to resolve the conflict. He stressed that the current situation is unacceptable and that a new generation should not be left to suffer in the Tindouf camps. Waltz concluded by calling for a renewed commitment to finding a solution to the conflict.
The US decision not to support the renewal of the MINURSO's mandate has significant implications for the future of the mission and the conflict in Western Sahara. The Security Council's decision on the mission's mandate will have far-reaching consequences for the people of Western Sahara and the region as a whole.
Key points
- The US Ambassador to the UN has stated that the MINURSO has become a symbol of a project that is doomed to fail.
- The MINURSO has not achieved its objectives over the past 35 years, and its mandate has been renewed without tangible results.
- The humanitarian situation in the Tindouf camps is dire, with thousands of people suffering from poverty and malnutrition.
