Politics1 min read

Why is Morocco celebrating the defeat of a UN resolution on Western Sahara?

By · Published by Everything Blog

In short

The United States had proposed extending the MINURSO mission for one year while framing Morocco's autonomy proposal as the singular path forward for future diplomatic talks. Russia blocked the text after arguing it predetermined sovereignty, while a competing Russian measure to extend the mission without modifications also failed to secure approval. Morocco subsequently urged UN staff to leave the territory within days, while noting it remains committed to the regional ceasefire. Algeria expressed regret over the mission's expiration, warning that the abandoned American draft showed excessive bias that undermined United Nations principles.

Key points

  • Morocco called for United Nations personnel to withdraw from Western Sahara and urged the…: Morocco called for United Nations personnel to withdraw from Western Sahara and urged the council to drop the dispute.
  • Algeria thanked Russia for blocking the American text but lamented the official expiratio…: Algeria thanked Russia for blocking the American text but lamented the official expiration of the peacekeeping mission.
  • The collapse of both American and Russian proposals leaves the future monitoring of Weste…: The collapse of both American and Russian proposals leaves the future monitoring of Western Sahara's ceasefire uncertain.

Sources checked by our analysis pipeline: 1

The mandate for UN mission that was tasked to monitor 1991 truce and hold referendum in disputed territory expires.

Morocco has welcomed the defeat of a US-drafted resolution which sought to extend the mandate of the UN mission in the disputed Western Sahara.

The mandate of the United Nations Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara (MINURSO) expired on Saturday after a veto by Russia, leaving the future of the peacekeeping mission in limbo. In 1991, the UN established MINURSO to monitor a ceasefire and prepare a referendum on the territory’s future.

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