U.N. peacekeeping mission in Western Sahara ends after 35 years
Thirty-five-year U.N. peacekeeping mission in Western Sahara ends amid Security Council deadlock.
Two women wearing draped headscarves stand outdoors in a crowd holding flags, including a green, white, and black striped flag printed with the words "SAHARA LIBRE." (Photo via Foreign Policy)
The United Nations Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara, known as MINURSO, officially ceased operations on Nov. 1, 2026. The end of the 35-year-old mission follows a failure by the U.N. Security Council to reach an agreement on extending its mandate, which expired at midnight on Oct. 31, 2026.
The mission has now entered a formal liquidation period. A smaller team, reporting to the U.N. Department of Operational Support, is currently overseeing the process of transporting assets back to troop-contributing countries and disposing of U.N. equipment. Stéphane Dujarric, spokesperson for the U.N. Secretary-General, confirmed that this phase is now underway.
The impasse resulted from a disagreement between the United States and Russia. The U.S. had proposed a resolution to replace the peacekeeping mission with a new political mission and endorse autonomy under Moroccan sovereignty, but the measure was vetoed by Russia. A competing Russian resolution to extend the existing mandate also failed to pass.
The Moroccan government welcomed the conclusion of the mission, characterizing it as an instrument that had served to internationalize the dispute. Conversely, the Polisario Front, while acknowledging the Russian veto of the U.S. plan, described the overall termination of the mission as an unacceptable decision.
Established in 1991 under Security Council Resolution 690, MINURSO was originally tasked with monitoring a ceasefire between Morocco and the Polisario Front and organizing a referendum on self-determination. While U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres has stated that the organization remains committed to supporting a political solution, the departure of the mission has raised concerns regarding regional stability.