Rival US and Russian resolutions on Western Sahara fail at UN
The UN Security Council rejected competing US and Russian resolutions on Western Sahara, leaving the 35-year peacekeeping mission without a renewed mandate. The mission's mandate expired on October 31, 2026. Russia vetoed a US-drafted resolution supporting Morocco's sovereignty claim, while the US vetoed a Russian resolution. The standoff has left the peacekeeping mission in limbo.
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- ✓ Russia and the US vetoed rival UN resolutions on Western Sahara.
- ✓ The UN peacekeeping mission in Western Sahara (MINURSO) has been in place since 1991.
- ✓ The mission's mandate expired on October 31, 2026.
- ✓ The US-drafted resolution supported Morocco's demand for sovereignty over Western Sahara.
What changed
The UN Security Council's failure to adopt a new resolution has resulted in the expiration of the MINURSO mission's mandate.
Live updates
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Rival US and Russian resolutions on Western Sahara fail at UN
The UN Security Council rejected competing US and Russian resolutions on Western Sahara, leaving the 35-year peacekeeping mission without a renewed mandate. The mission's mandate expired on October 31, 2026. Russia vetoed a US-drafted resolution supporting Morocco's sovereignty claim, while the US vetoed a Russian resolution. The standoff has left the peacekeeping mission in limbo.
Why it matters
The Western Sahara conflict has been a longstanding dispute between Morocco and the Polisario Front, with the UN peacekeeping mission (MINURSO) in place since 1991. The mission's mandate has been repeatedly extended, but this time, the US and Russia failed to agree on a resolution. The failure to extend the mandate has raised concerns about the future of the peacekeeping mission and the stability of the region.
What is confirmed
- Russia and the US vetoed rival UN resolutions on Western Sahara.
- The UN peacekeeping mission in Western Sahara (MINURSO) has been in place since 1991.
- The mission's mandate expired on October 31, 2026.
- The US-drafted resolution supported Morocco's demand for sovereignty over Western Sahara.
- The Russian resolution was not specified, but it was vetoed by the US.
What to watch next
- The UN's next steps on Western Sahara
- The impact of the expired mandate on the region
- Potential new resolutions or negotiations
confidence 95%Sources used for this update (17)
- www.aljazeera.com — Breaking News, World News and Video from Al Jazeera
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- Reuters — Russia, US veto rival UN Western Sahara resolutions, leaving peacekeeping mission in limbo
- Bloomberg.com — UN Peace Mission to Western Sahara Hits Unprecedented Standoff
- Al Jazeera — Rival US and Russian resolutions on Western Sahara fail at UN
- www.thestandard.com.hk — Russia, US veto rival UN Western Sahara resolutions, leaving peacekeeping mission in limbo - The Standard
- United States Mission to the United Nations (.gov) — Statement on a U.S.-Drafted UN Security Council Resolution on the Western Sahara Vetoed by the Russian Federation
- Business Insider Africa — US and Russia clash at UN Security Council, leaving North Africa peacekeeping mission on brink of total shutdown
- dw.com — UN peacekeeping mission in Western Sahara to expire amid US, Russia vetoes
- Al Jazeera — Why is Morocco celebrating the defeat of a UN resolution on Western Sahara?
- UN News — Western Sahara: UN ‘stands ready’ to keep supporting peace efforts as MINURSO mission ends
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