UN orders dismantling of its Western Sahara mission after U.S.-Russia cross-veto

United Nations — The United Nations on Sunday ordered the dismantling of the Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara (MINURSO), which expired at midnight on Saturday at the end of its last annual mandate, without having fulfilled its task of organizing the self-determination referendum for which it was created in 1991.

The decision came after Friday's cross-veto between the United States and Russia in the Security Council vote, which blocked the renewal of the mandate, even though the U.S.-backed resolution obtained 11 votes in favor and three abstentions. “The liquidation period of the mission begins, during which a reduced team will oversee the orderly withdrawal of its resources and personnel,” the UN's official statement said.

Secretary-General António Guterres asked the parties in conflict to cooperate fully so the withdrawal proceeds in an orderly manner and in the shortest possible time, and warned of the “risk of an escalation of hostilities,” while leaving the door open to mediation for a political solution that is “just, lasting and mutually acceptable” and guarantees the Sahrawi people's right to self-determination.

The departure of the observers threatens to fuel escalation between Morocco, which effectively controls 80% of the territory, and the Polisario Front, which is fighting for independence. The ceasefire signed 35 years ago collapsed in 2020, shortly before the United States recognized Moroccan sovereignty over Western Sahara. In recent years the mission had become an observer of a low-intensity war on both sides of the 2,700-kilometer wall of earth and sand dividing the territory, with about 500 members three years ago: 300 civilians and 200 unarmed military personnel.

The Polisario Front's delegate to the UN, Sidi Mohamed Omar, said the right to self-determination is “a red line that is not negotiable,” and warned of the “serious consequences” for regional peace of any unilateral measure by Morocco. Rabat, for its part, insists on removing the issue from the Security Council's agenda and shifting it to bilateral and regional agreements, and has convened its Parliament for Monday. Moroccan media estimate that MINURSO's departure must conclude within a maximum of one month.

Photo: El País

Source: El País