UN begins shutting down Western Sahara peacekeeping mission after 35 years

The United Nations has initiated the decommissioning of its peacekeeping mission in Western Sahara, marking the conclusion of a 35-year operation in the Moroccan territory, a UN spokesperson announced on Monday. The mission, known as Minurso, officially ceased its activities on Sunday, with a reduced contingent remaining to oversee the personnel withdrawal and the closure of its facilities.

Morocco expressed satisfaction with the mission's withdrawal, with its palace asserting the closure as a significant step towards removing the Sahara region conflict from the Security Council's agenda. The UN spokesperson, Stephane Dujarric, revealed that the process would encompass the repatriation of approximately 160 military observers, the removal of 180 civilian and affiliated staff, and the dismantling of around 13 mission bases and team sites.

The UN will also handle the disposal or transfer of equipment, terminate contracts, and dismantle communication and logistical systems as part of the closure procedure.

Dujarric explained that the remaining team would operate under the UN Department of Operational Support to manage the liquidation process. "We are also taking the necessary measures to ensure continued administrative, financial, and security oversight throughout this liquidation period, while maintaining the safety and well-being of all our personnel," he informed reporters in New York.

On Sunday, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres called upon all parties to cooperate with the mission's withdrawal. The closure of Minurso comes after a protracted diplomatic stalemate at the Security Council over the future of the Sahara region, a Moroccan-administered territory claimed by the Polisario Front, which advocates for its independence.

In December, the council adopted a US-drafted resolution that deemed Morocco's proposal to grant the territory autonomy under its sovereignty as the most viable solution to the long-standing dispute. However, Russia, which abstained from the initial vote, vetoed a subsequent US-backed resolution aimed at bolstering support for the Moroccan plan while scaling down the UN peacekeeping force.

A competing Russian proposal also failed to secure passage, leaving the mission without a renewed mandate. Moroccan Foreign Minister Nasser Bourita disclosed to state media that Rabat anticipated Russia's opposition to the US resolution but viewed the outcome as an opportunity to reassess the framework for resolving the Sahara conflict.