Rival US and Russian resolutions on Western Sahara fail at UN
Summary
The UN Security Council failed to renew the mandate of MINURSO, the peacekeeping mission in Western Sahara, after Russia vetoed a US-backed draft and a rival Russian draft fell short of the votes needed. The US proposal would have extended the mission for a year and made Morocco’s autonomy plan the sole basis for further talks; the mandate was due to expire on Saturday.Key Facts
- Russia vetoed the US-backed resolution, which had support from 11 of the council’s 15 members.
- The Russian draft to renew MINURSO without changes failed to win the nine votes required for adoption.
- The United Nations established MINURSO in 1991 to monitor a ceasefire and prepare a referendum on Western Sahara’s future.
- Disagreement over who could vote has prevented the planned referendum from taking place.
- Morocco claims Western Sahara, while the Algeria-backed Polisario Front seeks an independent Sahrawi Republic.
- Morocco’s autonomy proposal would leave the territory under Moroccan sovereignty while allowing it to manage internal affairs.
- Morocco’s royal palace said UN personnel and equipment should leave the territory; the Polisario representative welcomed Russia’s veto.
- Low-level fighting has continued since the Polisario Front said it was resuming armed struggle in 2020.
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