The United Nations’ peacekeeping mission in the disputed Western Sahara has ceased operations after 35 years, following a U.S.-Russia dispute at UN headquarters regarding the territory's future. The mission's liquidation period begins November 1, 2026.
The end of the mission raises concerns about regional stability. Western Sahara, a mineral-rich desert territory claimed by both Morocco and the pro-independence Polisario Front, was once a Spanish colony. Morocco currently administers most of the territory.
On Friday, Russia vetoed a U.S. resolution that would have recognized Moroccan sovereignty over Western Sahara and ended the peacekeeping mission. Subsequently, a Russian resolution to extend the mission was voted down, leading to the abrupt termination of its mandate.
Morocco’s royal palace welcomed the non-renewal, describing the mission as an "instrument to internationalize the dispute." Conversely, the Polisario Front, supported by Algeria, called the decision "unacceptable" and criticized what it termed the "excessive bias" of the U.S. draft resolution.
The UN classifies Western Sahara as a "non-self-governing territory." The dispute escalated into an armed conflict after Morocco annexed the territory in 1975, a conflict that lasted over 15 years and claimed more than 16,000 lives.
Morocco has long sought full sovereignty over the territory, referring to it as its southern provinces and securing support from several Western capitals. The Polisario Front advocates for independence and the establishment of a Sahrawi Republic, operating from refugee camps in Algeria. The movement has seen its international support diminish in recent years.
A UN-brokered cease-fire in 1991 led to the creation of the UN Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara (MINURSO). The settlement plan included a referendum on self-determination, but it never materialized due to disagreements over voter eligibility.
MINURSO had 534 personnel authorized and a budget exceeding $62 million for 2026-2027. Twenty personnel lost their lives during the mission. Egypt, Ghana, and Pakistan were the top military contributors.
The UN secretary-general has called upon all parties to respect the rights of the people of Western Sahara and expressed concern over the security situation and the risk of escalating hostilities. The Polisario Front withdrew from the cease-fire in 2020, and the territory has since experienced tensions and low-intensity hostilities.
The Western Sahara dispute is a major point of contention between Morocco and Algeria, the latter supporting the Polisario Front. The end of the UN mission risks further straining ties between the two regional powers and potentially fueling an arms race.