Western Sahara UN mission ceases as US and Russia clash over territory’s future

The United Nations’ peacekeeping mission in Western Sahara has officially ended after 35 years, following a standoff between the United States and Russia at the UN Security Council over the territory’s future.

On 1 November 2026, the UN began liquidating the mission, with a smaller team managing the orderly withdrawal of assets and equipment, according to Stéphane Dujarric, spokesperson for the UN Secretary-General.

The Security Council saw Russia veto a US draft resolution supporting Morocco’s sovereignty claim over Western Sahara and ending the mission next year. A rival Russian resolution to extend the mission was also rejected, leading to the abrupt termination of the peacekeeping force’s mandate.

Morocco welcomed the non-renewal, calling the mission an instrument that internationalized the dispute. Conversely, the Polisario Front, backed by Algeria, condemned the decision as unacceptable. Algeria’s foreign ministry criticized the US resolution for excessive bias.

Western Sahara, a vast desert territory along Africa’s northwestern Atlantic coast, is rich in minerals and fisheries. It is classified by the UN as a “non-self-governing territory” and is claimed by both Morocco and the pro-independence Polisario Front. Morocco administers most of the territory, except for a narrow “free zone” east of a Moroccan-built sand wall.

The dispute dates back to Morocco’s annexation in 1975, which led to armed conflict lasting over 15 years and resulting in more than 16,000 deaths. Morocco considers Western Sahara its southern provinces, a stance supported by several Western capitals, including Washington, Paris, and London. The Polisario Front continues to seek independence for the territory.