North Africa is at the receiving end as US and Russia Clash
A diplomatic standoff between Russia and the United States has left a United Nations peacekeeping mission in North Africa facing an uncertain future, after both countries vetoed rival proposals on the long-running conflict over Western Sahara.
- A standoff between Russia and the US at the UN Security Council has left the future of the Western Sahara peacekeeping mission (MINURSO) uncertain.
- Russia vetoed a US-backed resolution to renew and restructure MINURSO, arguing it favored Morocco and prejudged Western Sahara’s sovereignty.
- The US then vetoed Russia’s alternative, which would have extended the mission without changes, as most council members abstained.
- MINURSO’s mandate is set to expire on October 31, raising concerns about the loss of its peacekeeping, monitoring, and civilian protection roles.
Russia vetoed a US-drafted resolution at the UN Security Council on October 30, despite 11 members voting in favour.
The proposal sought to renew the mandate of the UN Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara (Mission des Nations Unies pour l’Organisation d’un Référendum au Sahara Occidental – MINURSO) for another year while changing its name, reviewing its structure and placing Morocco’s autonomy plan at the centre of negotiations.
The United States subsequently vetoed Russia’s alternative proposal, which would have extended the mission’s existing mandate without changing its name or responsibilities. That draft received only three votes in favour, while 11 members abstained.
With neither proposal adopted, MINURSO’s mandate is due to expire on October 31, leaving the future of the mission unresolved.
A dispute over the future of the UN mission
The US-backed proposal would have renamed MINURSO the United Nations Mission in Western Sahara (MINUSO), removing the reference to a referendum from its title.
It also called for the UN Secretary-General to submit recommendations on the mission’s future structure, staffing and resources, potentially paving the way for changes to its military presence.
Washington argued that the mission needed to reflect the realities of a peace process that has failed to deliver a referendum for decades. US Ambassador to the UN Mike Waltz said the proposal offered a path towards ending a conflict that has displaced Sahrawi people for generations.
Russia, however, argued that the American draft gave too much weight to Morocco’s position and risked prejudging the territory’s sovereignty. Moscow maintained that the UN process must preserve the principle of self-determination.
The dispute centres on Morocco, which controls most of Western Sahara, and the Algeria-backed Polisario Front, which seeks independence for the territory. The conflict dates back to 1975, following Spain’s withdrawal from its former colony.
A 1991 ceasefire established MINURSO and envisaged a referendum on the territory’s future, but disagreements over voter eligibility have prevented it from taking place.
The failure to renew the mission raises concerns about the future of its monitoring and de-escalation role. Oxfam warned that losing those functions could threaten civilian security and put refugees at greater risk.
Morocco welcomed the failure to renew MINURSO, saying its personnel and equipment should leave the territory in the coming days. The Security Council could still seek a last-minute compromise, but the competing vetoes have exposed deep divisions over how the decades-old conflict should be resolved.
Credit: Business Insider Africa