{
  "id": 17323755,
  "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-17323755",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-10-31T01:13:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Free Malaysia Today",
    "slug": "free-malaysia-today-freemalays",
    "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 for UN peacekeepers in Western Sahara is set to end on Saturday after Russia and the United States each vetoed the other's proposal to extend the mission. The peacekeeping force, called Minurso, was founded in 1991 and currently has 359 civilian and military staff members. The Western Sahara conflict has been ongoing between Morocco and the Polisario Front separatists, backed by Algeria, for the past 50 years. The United States proposed extending the mission for a year, prioritizing a Moroccan autonomy plan, which would have changed the force's name from Minurso to Minuso and dropped any reference to a self-determination referendum. Russia opposed this change, advocating for maintaining the existing terms of the mission. The United States vetoed Russia's proposal, and while some members of the UN Security Council supported the American resolution, they abstained. France's ambassador criticized Russia's obstruction, while France and Britain urged others to find a solution based on the original draft. Morocco welcomed the decision to not renew the mandate, signaling the end of the Security Council's involvement in the issue. Algeria praised Russia and other countries for not backing the US resolution, reiterating their commitment to promoting a self-determination solution for the Sahrawi people. The Polisario Front also expressed satisfaction with the rejection of the US resolution.",
  "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."
}