UN Peacekeeping Mission in Western Sahara Ends After Russian Veto
The UN Security Council failed to renew the MINURSO mandate after Russia vetoed a U.S. resolution, ending a 35-year peacekeeping presence in Western Sahara.
The United Nations Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara (MINURSO) officially ceased operations on November 1, 2026, after the UN Security Council failed to renew its mandate. The termination followed a diplomatic deadlock on October 30, when Russia vetoed a United States-drafted resolution that would have renamed the mission to MINUSO, removed the commitment to a self-determination referendum, and established Morocco's autonomy plan as the sole basis for a political settlement. A subsequent Russian proposal to extend the existing mandate without changes failed to secure the necessary nine votes, receiving only three affirmative votes.
U.S. Ambassador Mike Waltz criticized the veto, stating that some council members used their power to preserve a referendum that the UN had not been preparing for in decades. He highlighted the humanitarian crisis in the Tindouf camps as a reason to end the status quo. Russia defended its veto as a necessary step to prevent a unilateral approach that would predetermine matters of sovereignty.
The Government of Morocco welcomed the non-renewal as a historic step toward the definitive closure of the Sahara issue and called for the immediate withdrawal of UN personnel and equipment. Conversely, the Polisario Front and the Government of Algeria condemned the U.S. proposal as biased and praised the Russian veto for preserving the right to self-determination.
UN Secretary-General António Guterres urged all parties to exercise maximum restraint to avoid escalating hostilities in the region. A liquidation team from the UN Department of Operational Support is currently overseeing the repatriation of assets and the disposal of equipment.
