UN peacekeeping force in Western Sahara shuts down after 35 years

The United Nations ended its 35-year peacekeeping operation in Western Sahara on Sunday, November 1, 2026. The shutdown occurred after a stalemate in the Security Council prevented the renewal of the force's mandate. Stéphane Dujarric, the spokesperson for the U.N. secretary general, confirmed that the liquidation period began on that date. A smaller team from the Department of Operational Support will now manage the return of assets to troop-contributing nations and the disposal of U.N. equipment.

The decision stems from a direct confrontation between the United States and Russia at U.N. headquarters. On Friday, Russia vetoed a draft resolution backed by the U.S. that would have supported Morocco's claim to sovereignty and concluded the mission next year. Shortly after, a competing Russian proposal to extend the mission was voted down. The inability to agree on either path resulted in the immediate expiration of the force's authority.

Western Sahara is a vast desert region along Africa's northwestern Atlantic coast, roughly the size of the U.S. state of Colorado. The territory is rich in minerals and fisheries. It has been the subject of a long-standing dispute between Morocco and the Polisario Front, a pro-independence movement. Morocco administers nearly the entire area, while the Polisario controls a narrow strip of land east of a sand barrier built by Morocco.

The peacekeeping mission, known as MINURSO, was created in 1991 to monitor a cease-fire and oversee a referendum on self-determination. That vote never took place. Disagreements over the voter list prevented a consensus. Morocco wanted to include Sahrawis living in the areas it controls, while the Polisario argued for using Spain's colonial census. The dispute has persisted for decades, with Morocco viewing the territory as its southern provinces and the Polisario seeking an independent Sahrawi Republic.

Reactions to the mission's end were sharply divided. Morocco's royal palace welcomed the non-renewal, describing the mission as a tool to internationalize the dispute. In contrast, the Polisario Front called the decision unacceptable. Algeria, which supports the Polisario, expressed profound regret over the outcome. The Algerian foreign ministry criticized the U.S. draft resolution for excessive bias.

The mission involved significant resources. Its authorized strength was 534 personnel, and its budget for 2026-2027 exceeded $62 million. Egypt, Ghana, and Pakistan were the largest military contributors. Over the course of the operation, 20 personnel lost their lives. The U.N. has expressed concern about the security situation in the territory and the risk of hostilities escalating.

Tensions in the region have increased in recent years. The Polisario withdrew from the 1991 cease-fire in 2020 following clashes. The U.N. reported last month that the territory continues to experience low-intensity hostilities. The end of the mission adds to the friction between Morocco and Algeria. The two countries severed diplomatic ties in 2021 and are now expected to face further strain over the territory's status.

The U.N. secretary general urged all parties to respect the rights of the people of Western Sahara. He called on concerned parties to exercise maximum restraint to mitigate the risk of escalation. The mission's departure leaves the disputed territory without the international monitoring framework that has been in place since the early 1990s.