Western Sahara: UN begins MINURSO liquidation after 35 years
The UN has begun liquidating MINURSO in Western Sahara after the Security Council failed to renew its mandate, ending 35 years of deployment for the UN mission.
The United Nations began, on Sunday 1 November, the liquidation of its Western Sahara mission (MINURSO), after the Security Council failed to renew its mandate in a historic vote last Friday marked by cross-vetoes between Russia and the United States. The move closes 35 years of deployment for the UN mission, created in 1991 to monitor the ceasefire in Western Sahara.
A UN-supervised liquidation
UN Secretary-General spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric said 1 November marks the start of the mission's liquidation period, overseen by the UN Department of Operational Support through a small team tasked with organizing the orderly transfer of troop-contributing countries' equipment back to their home states, and managing UN-owned equipment under established procedures. Secretary-General António Guterres called on parties for "full cooperation" to ensure the operation proceeds "in an orderly manner and as soon as possible".
Guterres praised the mission's role in monitoring the ceasefire since its creation, paying tribute to his Special Representative and head of mission, Alexander Ivanko, who he said led through a phase he called "particularly difficult" after hostilities resumed in 2020. He also honored the memory of twenty mission staff who died during 35 years of field deployment, and reaffirmed the UN's commitment to supporting a political solution through his Personal Envoy, Staffan de Mistura.
Moroccan and British reactions
A statement from the Royal Cabinet described the non-renewal of MINURSO's mandate as "a significant step toward the definitive closure" of the Western Sahara file at the United Nations. British MP Andrew Murrison, who has held several senior ministerial posts, told the Maghreb Arab Press (MAP) that "Morocco's autonomy plan is the only option on the table, and all parties should rally behind it," praising the United Kingdom and France, alongside nine other Security Council members, for backing the US draft resolution. He said the failure of Russia's counter-draft "means MINURSO's modest mission is coming to an end".
An unprecedented diplomatic episode
MINURSO's mandate ended after Russia used its veto to block the US-drafted resolution backing Morocco's autonomy plan last Friday, before the United States in turn vetoed Russia's counter-resolution. Despite the end of its field deployment, Guterres reaffirmed his "continued concern" over the security situation in the region, calling on parties for "maximum restraint", while the door remains open for a political settlement through Staffan de Mistura's mediation.