UN peacekeeping mission in Western Sahara ends
The UN mission in Western Sahara began shutting down after 35 years when its mandate expired and the Security Council failed to agree on renewing it.
The United Nations peacekeeping mission in Western Sahara has begun shutting down after 35 years, following the expiry of its mandate at midnight on Oct. 31.
The UN Security Council failed to agree on the mission's future on Friday. A U.S. draft resolution was vetoed by Russia, which said it would have imposed a one-sided solution. A rival Russian proposal to extend the mandate for one year did not win enough votes.
The mission, known by its French initials MINURSO, was created in 1991 to monitor a ceasefire and to prepare a referendum in which the people of Western Sahara would choose between independence and becoming part of Morocco. The referendum never took place. Morocco controls most of the territory and has proposed autonomy under its sovereignty, while the Polisario Front, backed by Algeria, seeks independence.
When its mandate ended, the mission had about 160 military observers and around 180 civilian and other staff, based in Laayoune and at team sites across the territory. A smaller UN team will now oversee the drawdown and the disposal of equipment.
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said the mission's end does not cancel the people's right to self-determination. He urged all sides to show maximum restraint, warning of the risk that hostilities could escalate, and said the UN's envoy would keep working toward a political solution.
This summary is original reporting by tehworldnews, written after checking the facts against several major international news outlets and official statements.