Russia and the United States vetoed each other’s rival resolutions regarding the United Nations peacekeeping mission in the Western Sahara, bringing the 35-year-old mission to the brink of collapse as its mandate officially expires, nos.nl reported.
Why did the US and Russian resolutions collide in the UN Security Council?
The diplomatic deadlock unfolded when the United States put forward a proposal to extend the mission by one year while designating the Moroccan autonomy plan as the sole basis for future negotiations. The American draft also called for a reduction in the number of UN military personnel stationed in the territory and sought to drop the letter ‘R’—which stands for referendum—from the mission’s acronym, changing Minurso to Minuso. Russian Ambassador Nebenzia rejected the text, stating that the council must not approve such a one-sided approach that goes too far in supporting Marokko.
Following that veto, Russia tabled its own competing resolution for a one-year extension without the modifications proposed by Washington. The United States subsequently blocked the Russian text. Mike Waltz defended the US position by pointing out that a referendum has never actually taken place due to persistent disagreements over voter eligibility, arguing that the UN has not prepared for such a vote in decades.
What are the origins of the dispute over Western Sahara?
Marokko entered the territory in 1975 following the withdrawal of Spain, which had governed the region as a colony before leaving definitively in 1976. Marokko currently controls the majority of the area, situated on the North African coast between Marokko, Mauritania, and Algerije, a region rich in raw materials and offshore oil potential. The annexation triggered an armed conflict with the Polisario Front, a movement founded in 1973 that fights for an independent state and receives backing from Algerije.
A ceasefire was brokered in 1991, and the UN initially intended to hold a self-determination referendum for the local population, though that vote never materialized. The Polisario Front resumed armed struggle in 2020, effectively shattering the decades-old truce. Last year, the Security Council shifted its diplomatic language by backing the Moroccan autonomy plan as a negotiation framework, though the UN stopped short of granting formal approval or abandoning the principle of self-determination.
How do Marokko and the Polisario Front react to the deadlock?
The royal palace in Marokko issued a welcoming reaction to the failure of the mandate renewal, asserting that all foreign troops and military equipment must depart the territory in the coming days. Conversely, Sidi Omar, the representative for the Polisario Front, expressed gratitude to Moscow for blocking the American proposal, arguing that the US text would have torpedoed the fundamental tenets of the UN peace process.
While Marokko maintains that it respects the ceasefire on the ground, the aid organization Oxfam warned that losing the monitoring and de-escalation functions of Minurso threatens regional stability and puts civilian safety at risk.
Answers about the disputed territory and its history
What does the acronym Minurso stand for?
The ‘R’ in Minurso refers to a referendum.
How long has the Polisario Front been active?
The Polisario Front was established in 1973, initially fighting against Spanish colonial occupation before shifting its armed campaign against Marokko starting in 1975.
Which countries border the disputed territory?
Western Sahara is located on the North African coast between Marokko, Mauritania, and Algerije.
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