Morocco welcomes the non-renewal of the UN peacekeeping mission in Western Sahara, describing the end of its 35-year mandate as a significant diplomatic development in the long-running territorial dispute.
Morocco has welcomed the United Nations Security Council’s failure to renew the mandate of its peacekeeping mission in Western Sahara, describing the development as a significant diplomatic step towards resolving the decades-long territorial dispute.
The Moroccan Royal Office stated this in a statement issued on Friday and made available to the press on Saturday, describing the development as the closure of a 35-year chapter.
The reaction followed the Security Council’s failure on Friday to adopt either of two competing draft resolutions seeking an extension of the mandate of the United Nations Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara (MINURSO).
Reports show that Russia vetoed a United States-sponsored draft resolution proposing a one-year extension of the mission’s mandate while making Morocco’s autonomy proposal the basis for negotiations.
The Security Council subsequently rejected a Russian-sponsored alternative seeking a straightforward one-year extension of MINURSO’s existing mandate.
The Russian proposal received three votes in favour, one against and 11 abstentions, falling short of the nine affirmative votes required for adoption.
Consequently, MINURSO’s mandate is scheduled to expire on October 31, 2026, unless the Security Council reaches an agreement on a last-minute extension.
Reacting to the outcome, Morocco’s Royal Office described the development as a major diplomatic milestone towards what it called the definitive resolution of the Moroccan Sahara issue at the United Nations.
“A 35-year chapter has now come to a close,” the statement said.
The statement characterised MINURSO as a mission established under an outdated international context, arguing that its continued presence had contributed to the internationalisation of the dispute over Morocco’s control of the territory.
It further maintained that the non-renewal of the mandate should lead to the withdrawal of MINURSO personnel, vehicles, equipment and other mission symbols from Morocco’s southern provinces.
Morocco also argued that the development should bring an end to the Security Council’s periodic consideration of the issue, including meetings and reports by the UN Secretary-General.
It added that briefings by the Secretary-General’s Personal Envoy would no longer be necessary.
“The UN political process, which has unfortunately been marked by the procrastination of other parties and their stubbornness in creating deadlocks and perpetuating the status quo, is thus suspended,” the statement said.
The Kingdom also indicated that it would pursue similar measures within other United Nations bodies in the coming weeks.
Despite welcoming the development, Morocco reaffirmed its commitment to maintaining the ceasefire, stressing that its actions would continue to be guided by respect for its territorial integrity, national security and the tranquillity of its citizens.
MINURSO was established in 1991 following a United Nations-brokered ceasefire between Morocco and the Polisario Front.
The mission was mandated to monitor the ceasefire and facilitate preparations for a referendum through which the people of Western Sahara would determine the territory’s future.
However, the proposed referendum has never been conducted due to disagreements between Morocco and the Polisario Front over voter eligibility and other aspects of the electoral process.
Western Sahara, a former Spanish colony, has remained at the centre of a protracted territorial dispute since Morocco took control of most of the territory in 1975.
While Morocco considers Western Sahara part of its sovereign territory and advocates autonomy under Moroccan sovereignty, the Polisario Front seeks independence and the establishment of a sovereign Sahrawi state.
The Polisario Front is backed by Algeria, which supports the territory’s right to self-determination.
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