UN pulls out of Western Sahara

The United Nations ended its peacekeeping operation in Western Sahara on Sunday. This marked the conclusion of a mission that has operated for 35 years. The abrupt termination resulted from a standoff between the United States and Russia at U.N. headquarters regarding the territory's future.

Stéphane Dujarric, the spokesperson for the U.N. secretary general, announced the start of the liquidation period on November 1, 2026. A smaller team from the Department of Operational Support will now oversee the process. Their task involves transporting assets to troop-contributing countries and disposing of U.N. equipment. The mission had been extended repeatedly since its establishment in 1991.

The final decision followed a series of votes at the U.N. Security Council on Friday. Russia vetoed a U.S. draft resolution that would have supported Morocco's claim to sovereignty and ended the mission next year. Subsequently, a rival Russian proposal to extend the mission was voted down. This disagreement led to the immediate end of the force's mandate.

Western Sahara is a desert territory along Africa's northwestern coast. It is roughly the size of Colorado and rich in minerals and fisheries. The land is claimed by both Morocco and the pro-independence Polisario Front. Morocco administers most of the area, except for a narrow strip east of a sand wall known as the free zone.

Morocco's royal palace welcomed the decision, describing the mission as an instrument to internationalize the dispute. In contrast, the Polisario Front, supported by Algeria, called the move unacceptable. The Algerian foreign ministry expressed profound regret and criticized the excessive bias of the U.S. draft resolution.

The territory has been the site of a long-standing conflict. After Morocco annexed the region in 1975, an armed conflict lasted more than 15 years. According to the French Senate, this conflict claimed more than 16,000 lives on both sides. The U.N. mission, known as MINURSO, was originally created to monitor a referendum on self-determination that never took place.

The force had a 2026-2027 budget exceeding $62 million and was authorized for 534 personnel. Egypt, Ghana, and Pakistan were the top military contributors. Twenty personnel lost their lives during the mission. The U.N. secretary-general called on all parties to exercise maximum restraint and respect the rights of the people of Western Sahara.

The Polisario Front withdrew from the ceasefire in 2020. The U.N. reported that the territory has since experienced tensions and low-intensity hostilities. Morocco and Algeria severed diplomatic relations in 2021, making the end of the mission a critical moment for their rivalry.