Western Sahara: Minurso exits with 340 staff, 13 sites
Details of the Minurso withdrawal from the Moroccan Sahara: 160 military observers, 180 civilian staff leave, 13 sites handed over. UN hears Russia on Nov 10.
The United Nations Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara (Minurso) has entered an effective liquidation phase, after UN Secretary-General spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric announced that the closure will involve around 340 people, roughly 160 military observers and 180 civilian and affiliated staff, along with the handover of 13 sites belonging to the mission. This follows Russia's use of its veto to block the US-backed draft resolution supporting Morocco's autonomy plan, which led to the mission's mandate not being renewed and its entry into a liquidation phase since November 1.
How will the closure unfold?
At his Monday press briefing, Dujarric said the closure would be "gradual" and carried out according to the rules and regulations the UN applies when closing field missions, aiming for an "orderly, environmentally sound closure." The process includes repatriating military observers, withdrawing civilian staff, handing over the thirteen sites, as well as selling or transferring UN property, dismantling communications and logistics systems, archiving records, and closing field contracts.
Bourita: "An exemplary operation, not an expulsion"
In remarks to channel "2M" shortly before the liquidation began, Foreign Minister Nasser Bourita described the operation as "exemplary" and said it is "not an expulsion operation," stressing that it does not mean the end of the ceasefire in effect since September 6, 1991. Secretary-General António Guterres, for his part, took note of the end of Minurso's mandate, calling on the parties to cooperate so the departure can be completed "as soon as possible."
General Assembly to hear Russia's justification on November 10
The UN General Assembly, with all 193 member states, will hold a session on November 10 to require Russia to justify its use of the veto, under Resolution 76/262, which obliges the Assembly to meet within ten working days of any veto cast in the Security Council. The session will have no legal effect on the Security Council's decision and will not revive Minurso, but it marks a political moment that puts Moscow's position on the Moroccan Sahara file to account before the international community.