US, Russia Resolutions on Western Sahara Fail at UN
The United Nations Security Council failed to agree on competing United States and Russian resolutions concerning Western Sahara on October 30, leaving the future of the UN peacekeeping mission uncertain. Russia vetoed the US-backed draft, while a rival Russian proposal failed to secure the votes required for adoption.
The dispute centred on the mandate of the UN Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara, known as MINURSO. Its mandate was due to expire on October 31, raising uncertainty over the mission’s continued role in monitoring the ceasefire and supporting efforts to resolve the long-running territorial dispute.
Russia vetoes US-backed proposal
The US resolution sought to renew the mission for a year while making Morocco’s autonomy proposal the only basis for further negotiations. It also proposed removing the word “Referendum” from the mission’s name and reducing its military component.
The draft received support from 11 Security Council members, while three abstained. Russia, a permanent member of the council, used its veto to block the proposal.
Moscow argued that the US text favoured Morocco and risked prejudging the territory’s future. Russia’s UN ambassador, Vassily Nebenzia, said the council should not endorse a one-sided approach to the dispute, according to Reuters and Al Jazeera.
Russian draft also fails
Russia then introduced a competing resolution calling for MINURSO’s mandate to be extended for another year without the changes proposed by Washington.
The Russian draft received only three votes in favour, with one member voting against and 11 abstaining. It fell short of the nine affirmative votes needed for adoption, meaning the United States did not need to use its veto.
The failure of both proposals left the council without an agreed extension. The mission’s mandate was scheduled to expire on October 31, unless members reached a last-minute agreement.
Long-running dispute remains unresolved
Western Sahara is a former Spanish colony in northwestern Africa. Morocco took control of much of the territory in 1975, while the Algeria-backed Polisario Front seeks independence for the Sahrawi people.
The UN established MINURSO in 1991 following a ceasefire between Morocco and the Polisario Front. The mission was tasked with monitoring the truce and helping prepare a referendum on the territory’s future.
However, the vote has never taken place because the parties have been unable to agree on who would be eligible to participate. The dispute has remained unresolved for decades, with competing positions over Moroccan autonomy and Sahrawi self-determination.
Morocco and Polisario react to the vote
Morocco welcomed the failure to renew the mission and said the UN political process should no longer remain on the Security Council’s agenda. The country supports an autonomy plan that would keep Western Sahara under Moroccan sovereignty.
The Polisario Front, meanwhile, welcomed Russia’s veto of the US proposal. Its UN representative, Sidi Omar, said the draft would have undermined the Sahrawi people’s right to self-determination and independence.
The failed votes have heightened uncertainty over MINURSO’s future and the international efforts to maintain stability in the disputed territory.
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