UN expresses concern as Western Sahara peacekeeping operation winds down

The UN has flagged mounting security risks in Western Sahara as the organization prepares to withdraw its peacekeeping force from the North African territory. The Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara, commonly known as MINURSO, has served as a stabilizing presence in the disputed region for more than 30 years, maintaining a ceasefire agreement reached in 1991.

The withdrawal of the peacekeeping operation represents a significant shift in international engagement with the territory, which has remained one of Africa's longest-running unresolved conflicts. The dispute centers on Morocco's control of the region and the independence aspirations of the Sahrawi people, represented by the Polisario Front.

UN officials have expressed apprehension that the absence of international monitoring could create a security vacuum in the area. The organization has emphasized the importance of maintaining stability in the region while diplomatic negotiations over Western Sahara's political status remain deadlocked.

The drawdown of MINURSO comes as international attention to the conflict has waned, despite the territory's strategic location and its implications for regional stability in North Africa. The UN has urged all parties involved to pursue peaceful resolution of the dispute and to respect commitments made under previous agreements.