UN Security Council fails to extend mandate of Western Sahara mission

The Security Council on Friday failed to renew the mandate of the UN Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara (MINURSO).

The Security Council voted on two separate draft resolutions on renewing MINURSO's mandate.

A US-drafted resolution, which would make significant changes to the mission's mandate and future presence, won 11 votes in favor but was vetoed by Russia.

In a subsequent vote on a Russian-drafted resolution for a straightforward one-year renewal of MINURSO's mandate, the draft failed to obtain the nine positive votes needed for adoption. The Russian draft won three votes in favor and one vote against, with 11 abstentions. The United States voted against it.

Following the 1975 Madrid Accords, Spain transferred administrative responsibilities for Western Sahara to Morocco and Mauritania before withdrawing from the territory in 1976. When Mauritania, under pressure from Polisario guerrillas, abandoned all claims to its portion in August 1979, Morocco subsequently took control of the areas vacated by Mauritania and has since controlled most of the territory. Fighting broke out between Morocco and the Polisario Front, which seeks the independence of Western Sahara.

A cease-fire was signed in 1991. The UN mission was deployed that year to monitor the cease-fire and to organize, if possible, a referendum on self-determination for the people of Western Sahara.