Why is Morocco celebrating the defeat of a UN resolution on Western Sahara?
Mandate expires for UN mission tasked to monitor 1991 truce and hold a referendum in the disputed territory.
On October 30th, 2026, the United Nations Security Council decided not to renew the mandate of the United Nations Mission for the Referendum in the Moroccan Sahara, effectively ending a 35-year peacekeeping phase. The decision marks a significant change in the diplomatic landscape of the region. The Moroccan Royal Office welcomed the outcome, describing it as a major development that signifies a new approach to managing the Moroccan-Sahara issue.
This shift underscores a move away from previous methods focused on management, towards an approach aiming to fundamentally alter the parameters of the dispute. The mission's operations, including personnel, vehicles, and equipment, will cease in the coming days in the southern provinces of Morocco. The Moroccan government emphasized its commitment to regional stability, emphasizing adherence to the ceasefire and respect for territorial integrity and national security.
The non-renewal of the mission's mandate also indicates the suspension of the UN political process, which has been hindered by procrastination and deadlocks.
Written by urgent.news from KBC's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
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