UN ends 35-year Western Sahara peacekeeping mission

The United Nations Minurso mission, which had maintained a presence in Western Sahara since 1991, has formally ended its operations following a decision by the UN Security Council. The withdrawal represents a major development in one of Africa's longest-running territorial disputes, where Morocco and the Polisario Front have remained at odds over sovereignty of the North African territory.

Morocco, which asserts territorial claims over Western Sahara, welcomed the UN's decision to terminate the peacekeeping mandate. Moroccan officials have previously argued that the extended mission had failed to achieve its objectives and advocated for alternative approaches to resolving the conflict.

The Polisario Front, which seeks independence for Western Sahara and has enjoyed backing from Algeria, expressed concern about the peacekeeping withdrawal. The liberation movement has maintained that international oversight was essential for monitoring ceasefire compliance and protecting the interests of the Sahrawi people in the territory.

The conflict has resulted in thousands of displaced persons in refugee camps, primarily located in Algeria. The withdrawal of UN peacekeepers raises questions about how stability will be maintained in the region and what diplomatic mechanisms might replace the international monitoring presence that has characterized the past 35 years.