The United Nations is preparing to withdraw its long-standing peacekeeping mission from Western Sahara after the Security Council failed to extend its mandate.
The 35-year-old United Nations Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara (MINURSO) is scheduled to begin winding down on November 1, 2026, marking the end of a mission established following a 1991 ceasefire agreement between Morocco and the Polisario Front.
MINURSO was established to monitor the ceasefire and facilitate efforts towards resolving the decades-long dispute over the status of Western Sahara, a territory claimed by both Morocco and the independence-seeking Polisario Front.
The impending withdrawal has drawn mixed reactions from the two sides, with Morocco welcoming the decision while the Polisario Front has expressed concern over the development.
Morocco’s position reflects its support for the decision, while the Polisario Front fears the withdrawal could undermine efforts to achieve self-determination for the people of Western Sahara.
The development marks a significant turning point in the decades-long conflict, raising questions about the future of the peace process and efforts to secure a lasting political settlement in the disputed territory.
