In brief
After the Security Council failed to renew its mandate, the UN mission MINURSO in Western Sahara will be liquidated on November 1, 2026. Morocco welcomed the outcome, while the Sahrawi‑led Polisario Front expressed worry over the stalled referendum and lack of clear progress towards independence. The mission’s dissolution follows a U.S.‑drafted resolution supporting Moroccan autonomy plans and a Russian veto of a counter‑resolution.
On November 1, 2026, the United Nations announced that its 35‑year peacekeeping operation in Western Sahara, MINURSO, would be liquidated after the Security Council voted against renewing its mandate. The decision marked the end of a mission that has monitored the 1991 cease‑fire between Morocco and the Sahrawi‑backed Polisario Front for decades.
MINURSO, officially the Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara, was established to supervise the cease‑fire and to organise a territorial referendum. To date, the referendum has never taken place, largely because of disputes over who is eligible to vote. The mission’s name reflects this goal, with the letter “R” standing for referendum.
The Security Council’s lack of renewal followed a U.S.‑drafted resolution that accepted Morocco’s plan to grant the territory autonomy within Moroccan sovereignty as the “most feasible” solution. Russia, in turn, vetoed a counter‑resolution that would have reaffirmed the UN’s preference for the Moroccan plan while reducing the size of the peacekeeping force. The motion to extend MINURSO’s mandate was defeated, leaving the mission to expire without a new directive.
UN Secretary‑Secretary Antonio Guterres said that the operation would enter its liquidation phase, with all assets being returned to troop‑contributing states. He highlighted that the mission’s end represents a significant turning point for the Western Sahara issue on the Security Council agenda.
Morocco’s foreign minister, Nasser Bourita, welcomed the outcome. In a statement released on state media, he referred to the referendum element in MINURSO’s name as an “anachronism” and noted that the decision was “an opportunity to rewrite certain rules of the game.”
“The reference to a referendum— the “R” in its name— is an anachronism,” said Nasser Bourita.
In contrast, the Polisario Front, which represents the Sahrawi people’s aspirations for a sovereign state, voiced concern. The group emphasized that the mission’s closure did not resolve the core issues of self‑determination and that the referendum remains unresolved. The Polisario stated that it was “concerned at the deadlock in the Security Council meeting.”
Algeria, which provides backing to the Polisario Front, also expressed “deep regret” over the non‑renewal of the mission. Algeria’s foreign ministry criticised the U.S. for perceived bias toward Morocco’s position, indicating that the political dynamics surrounding the resolution may have influenced the outcome.
For the Sahrawi people, the news carries mixed significance. While the termination of a long‑stretching foreign military presence might signal a shift in international attention, the crucial political questions surrounding autonomy, referendum processes, and long‑term control remain unanswered. The Sahrawi communities, who have lived in the desert region for generations, continue to seek an end to the conflict and recognition of their land rights.
International analysts suggest that the dissolution of MINURSO could open a new era for diplomatic negotiations, but others warn that it may also embolden Morocco’s autonomous proposals without adequate Safeguards for Sahrawi self‑determination. The UN has not offered a replacement plan, leaving stakeholders to chart the next steps.
As the mission’s assets are returned and the UN’s monitor ships leave the Sahara, the region’s future remains uncertain. The Sahrawi voice, through the Polisario Front and civil society, remains central to the ongoing debate over autonomy, independence and international support for the Western Sahara conflict.
