The United Nations Security Council failed to reach an agreement on the future of the United Nations Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara (MINURSO) following a contentious meeting on October 30, leaving the mission without a renewed mandate for the first time since its establishment in 1991.

The meeting saw Russia veto a United States-sponsored draft resolution that had received 11 votes in favor, one against, and three abstentions. The proposed resolution sought to renew the mission’s mandate for another year while making significant changes to its name, structure and political framework, including making Morocco’s autonomy proposal the basis for negotiations over the territory. This session was followed closely precisely for this reason, as the proposal would have had far-reaching consequences for the people of Sahrawi in their quest for self determination.

A competing Russian-sponsored draft, which proposed a straightforward one-year extension of MINURSO’s existing mandate without changing its name or structure, also failed to secure adoption. It received three votes in favor, one against, and 11 abstentions, falling short of the nine votes required for adoption.

The failure of both proposals means that the mission’s mandate expired at midnight on October 31, bringing its 35-year presence in Western Sahara to an end and raising questions about the future of the UN’s role in the territory.

MINURSO was established through Security Council Resolution 690 (1991), following the UN-Organization of African Unity settlement plan accepted by Morocco and the Polisario Front in 1988. Its original mandate included preparing a referendum through which the Sahrawi people would choose between independence and integration with Morocco.

However, the referendum has never been held.

Morocco celebrates the end of MINURSO’s mandate

Morocco welcomed the failure to renew MINURSO’s mandate, describing the development as a significant step towards ending the Western Sahara question at the United Nations.

In a statement issued on October 30, the Moroccan Royal Office said the mission’s non-renewal meant its personnel, vehicles, equipment, and other presence in what Morocco refers to as its southern provinces were expected to leave in the coming days.

“A 35-year chapter has now come to a close,” the statement said.

Morocco further argued that the mission had outlived its original purpose and called for an end to the Security Council’s periodic consideration of the Western Sahara question, including its meetings, reports by the UN Secretary-General and briefings by his Personal Envoy.

Polisario Front rejects the proposed changes

The Polisario Front, which represents the Sahrawi independence movement, welcomed Russia’s opposition to the US-sponsored resolution, arguing that its adoption would have undermined the foundations of the UN-led peace process.

In a communiqué issued on October 31, the movement said the deadlock resulted primarily from the US proposal, which it argued reflected the positions of Washington and Morocco while departing from the mutually-accepted framework under which MINURSO was established.

The movement expressed appreciation for Russia’s veto and acknowledged the abstentions of China, Pakistan and Somalia. It also recognized the position of Algeria and other countries that have supported the Sahrawi people’s right to self-determination.

The Frente POLISARIO maintained that any attempt to unilaterally alter the mission’s mandate to accommodate Morocco’s position was unacceptable.

It further recalled that it had submitted an expanded proposal to the UN secretary-general on October 20, 2025, as part of its stated commitment to finding a negotiated settlement.

The movement reaffirmed its willingness to cooperate with the UN secretary-general and Security Council towards what it described as a just, lasting, and definitive solution to the decolonization of Western Sahara.

Sahrawi organizations warn against abandoning international responsibility

The failure to renew MINURSO’s mandate has also raised concerns among Sahrawi human rights organizations about the future of international monitoring and protection in the territory.

The Sahrawi Collective of Human Rights Defenders in Western Sahara (CODESA) warned that the Security Council’s failure to reach an agreement should not become an opportunity for the international community to retreat from its responsibilities towards Western Sahara.

In its October 31 statement, CODESA stressed that the territory remains an unresolved decolonization question and that the Sahrawi people’s right to self-determination must be respected.

The organization argued that the difficulties MINURSO has faced in implementing its original mandate should not be used to justify abandoning the mission. Instead, it calls for renewed efforts to enable the mission to carry out its responsibilities, particularly monitoring the ceasefire and reporting developments on the ground.

CODESA also called for the establishment of an independent UN mechanism to monitor and report on the human rights situation in Western Sahara, citing the need to protect civilians and human rights defenders. Urging the Security Council to resume consultations, preserve MINURSO’s original mandate and avoid imposing a political settlement without the free consent of the Sahrawi people.

UN maintains commitment to self-determination

Following the expiry of the mission’s mandate, UN Secretary-General António Guterres reiterated that the end of MINURSO did not extinguish the Sahrawi people’s right to determine their political future.

In a statement delivered through his spokesperson on November 1, Guterres said the departure of MINURSO “does not abrogate” the people’s “inalienable right to self-determination.”

He further called on all parties to respect and promote the rights of the people of Western Sahara. The secretary-general maintained that the United Nations remained committed to supporting a just, lasting, and mutually-acceptable political solution that provides for the self-determination of the Sahrawi people.

Although MINURSO’s operations are now winding down, the UN has indicated that its wider diplomatic efforts towards a peaceful resolution will continue.

The failure of the Security Council to renew MINURSO’s mandate is a significant development in the long-running Western Sahara dispute. However, it does not resolve the underlying disagreement over the territory’s political status of the Sahrawian people.

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