UN Western Sahara peacekeeping mission faces collapse as US, Russia clash

The UN Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara (MINURSO) faces an uncertain future after the United States and Russia vetoed competing resolutions at the Security Council aimed at extending the peacekeeping operation. The deadlock underscores fundamental disagreements among world powers regarding Western Sahara's right to self-determination and the territory's disputed status.

The 29-year-old mission, which has monitored a ceasefire between Morocco and the Polisario Front since 1991, is scheduled to expire unless the Security Council approves a renewal. The competing vetoes reflect broader geopolitical tensions, with each permanent member prioritising divergent positions on how the long-running territorial dispute should be resolved.

Western Sahara has remained one of Africa's longest-unresolved conflicts, with Morocco occupying most of the territory while the Polisario Front, backed by Algeria, continues to seek independence through a UN-promised referendum that has not materialised. The collapse of the UN mission could destabilise the region and complicate diplomatic efforts to revive stalled peace negotiations.

Regional observers expressed concern that the lapse of MINURSO could reignite tensions between the parties and weaken international oversight of a fragile ceasefire that has largely held despite the absence of progress toward a political settlement.