The diplomatic impasse emerged after Washington sought a one-year mandate extension that dropped the word "referendum" from the mission's title and designated Morocco's autonomy plan as the exclusive framework for negotiations. Russia vetoed the measure despite support from 11 council members, including France and the United Kingdom, before failing to secure sufficient votes for its own status-quo alternative. The five-decade dispute over the resource-rich former Spanish colony pits Morocco against the Algeria-backed Polisario Front. With the UN mission officially lapsed, immediate concerns have emerged over stability in the phosphate- and fish-rich territory.
Key points
The expiration of the Minurso mandate ends a United Nations presence that had been active…: The expiration of the Minurso mandate ends a United Nations presence that had been active in the region since 1991.
A long-delayed independence referendum was never held because the involved parties could…: A long-delayed independence referendum was never held because the involved parties could not agree on voter eligibility.
The sudden departure of peacekeepers significantly raises stability concerns following th…: The sudden departure of peacekeepers significantly raises stability concerns following the collapse of the formal ceasefire in late 2020.
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- Published
Morocco has welcomed the end of a decades-long UN peacekeeping mission in Western Sahara, after a diplomatic showdown between the US and Russia left the Security Council unable to agree on its future.
The council failed on Friday to renew the mandate of the UN Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara (Minurso) after Russia vetoed a US-backed proposal. A rival Russian draft to extend the mission also failed to secure enough votes.
The decision raises questions about the future of Africa's longest territorial dispute and the fragile ceasefire between Morocco, which claims Western Sahara, and the Polisario Front which has been fighting for the territory's independence for more than 50 years.
Here is what you need to know.
Why is Western Sahara disputed?
Western Sahara, on Africa's north-west coast, was a Spanish colony until 1975. It has significant phosphate reserves and valuable fishing grounds along its Atlantic coast.
As Spain prepared to withdraw, both Morocco and Mauritania claimed the territory.
The International Court of Justice found historical ties of allegiance but no territorial sovereignty that overrode the…
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