{
  "id": 17323322,
  "title": "UN peacekeeping mandate in Western Sahara set to lapse",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/31/un-peacekeeping-mandate-in-western-sahara-set-to-lapse",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-10-31T01:13:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Free Malaysia Today",
    "slug": "free-malaysia-today",
    "url": "https://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/world/2026/10/31/un-peacekeeping-mandate-in-western-sahara-set-to-lapse"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "The mandate of the United Nations peacekeeping force in Western Sahara, known as MINURSO, expires on Saturday after Russia and the United States blocked each other's attempts to extend the mission. Established in 1991, MINURSO currently has 359 civilian and military personnel in place. The conflict in Western Sahara has been ongoing for 50 years between Morocco and the Polisario Front, backed by Algeria. The United States initially proposed to extend the mission by a year with a focus on Morocco's autonomy plan, while Russia suggested renewing the mandate under the same conditions. The US vetoed Russia's proposal, leading to the mission's termination. Morocco's Royal Cabinet welcomed the decision, signaling an end to the Security Council's involvement in the issue. Algeria, on the other hand, expressed gratitude to Russia and other countries that did not support the US resolution, emphasizing its commitment to securing the Sahrawi people's right to self-determination.",
  "summary": "The US and Russia blocked each other’s proposals to renew the mission amid divisions over the territory’s right to self-determination.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 3,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Winnipeg Free Press",
        "title": "Rival US and Russia resolutions on disputed Western Sahara are defeated in UN Security Council",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/30/rival-us-and-russia-resolutions-on-disputed-western-sahara-are",
        "published": "2026-10-30T21:48:20.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "DW News",
        "title": "UN peacekeeping mission in Western Sahara to expire amid US, Russia vetoes",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/31/un-peacekeeping-mission-in-western-sahara-to-expire-amid-us-russia",
        "published": "2026-10-31T04:24:00.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}