UN Western Sahara mission's mandate expires after rival drafts fail
The mandate of the UN mission in Western Sahara runs out on Saturday after the Security Council rejected two rival drafts. Russia vetoed a US draft that backed Morocco's autonomy plan, the UN record shows. A Russian draft to extend the mission for a year won only three votes.
The UN Security Council failed on Friday to renew its mission in Western Sahara, known as MINURSO, the UN record shows. The mission's mandate expires on 31 October, according to the record. The mission was set up after a 1991 ceasefire to help prepare a vote on the territory's future, AP reported. That vote never took place.
A US draft got 11 votes in favor, with three abstentions, but Russia vetoed it, the record shows. The text would have ended the mission on April 30, 2027, and created a new political mission no longer preparing for a referendum, AP reported. DW reported that it would have renamed the mission MINUSO, dropping the R for referendum.
Russia's draft would have extended the mission unchanged until 31 October 2027. It got three votes in favor, from China, Somalia and Russia, with the United States voting no and 11 abstentions, the record shows. That fell short of the nine yes votes a draft needs to pass, AP reported.
US Ambassador Mike Waltz said Russia's veto prevents "historic steps toward finally ending a 50-year conflict," AP reported. The US delegate called the draft "a good faith attempt" to make the mission fit for purpose, the record shows.
Russia's UN Ambassador Vassily Nebenzia said the US draft sidelined "a just, free and fair solution on the basis of self-determination" for the Sahrawi people, AP reported. The Council "must not give a blessing" to a one-sided approach, he said, the record shows.
Morocco's royal palace said the failed vote "should mark the end of the Security Council's involvement," DW reported. Morocco's delegate said at the meeting that "tradition has been violated," according to the record.
Sidi Omar, the Polisario Front's UN representative, thanked Russia, AP and DW reported. He said the US draft "would have undermined the free exercise by the Sahrawi people of their inalienable right to self-determination and independence."
What we know: Neither draft passed, so the mission's mandate runs out on 31 October.
What we don't: Whether the Council will try again to renew or replace the mission.
Where outlets agree The UN record, DW and AP agree Russia blocked the US draft, which won 11 votes in favor with three abstentions.
Where they differ The cited reports agree on the key facts so far.