The United Nations Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara (MINURSO) announced the end of its mandate in Western Sahara as of today, Sunday, November 1, following the failure to extend its mandate without reaching an agreement within the UN Security Council.
For his part, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres expressed his appreciation for the pivotal role played by the mission since its establishment in 1991, particularly in monitoring the ceasefire and creating favorable conditions for reaching a political settlement to the conflict, according to UN News.
Spokesperson for the Secretary-General St茅phane Dujarric added in a press statement that November 1, 2026, marks the beginning of the mission's liquidation phase, which will be overseen by a small team reporting to the UN Department of Operational Support. This team will be responsible for organizing the transfer of assets belonging to troop-contributing countries to their respective nations and disposing of UN-owned equipment in accordance with established procedures.
Guterres pointed to his concern regarding the security situation in the region and the risks associated with the potential escalation of hostilities, calling on all concerned parties to exercise the utmost restraint and avoid any steps that could increase tensions or undermine regional stability.
The end of the mission's mandate came after the Security Council failed on Friday to adopt two draft resolutions, one American and one Russian, regarding the extension of its mandate. Russia used its veto power against the American draft, while the Russian draft did not receive the required number of votes from member states.
Source: Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA)
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