End of UN peacekeeping mission in Western Sahara after veto in UN Security Council

After Russian veto, end of UN peacekeeping mission in Western Sahara As of: October 31, 2026 • 5:12 p.m

After more than 30 years, the UN peace mission MINURSO is now coming to an end: Russia has blocked the extension in the UN Security Council. This means that civil and military forces will have to leave the area in the coming days - including German soldiers.

The future of the UN mission for the referendum in Western Sahara, MINURSO, had been unclear since last year - now the abrupt end came. A UN Security Council resolution to extend the mission failed due to Russia's veto.

The US draft proposed extending the deployment by one year, but at the same time establishing Morocco's plan to incorporate Western Sahara into its national territory as an autonomous region as the only basis for negotiations. In addition, the military component of the operation should be reduced and the reference to plans for a referendum should be deleted from its name.

Russia criticized a "unilateral approach" and presented a counterproposal to continue the mission under the previous conditions. The USA blocked this in turn.

Eleven out of 15 Security Council members voted in favor of the Moroccan autonomy plan. more

The UN Western Sahara peacekeeping mission Minurso was founded in 1991 to monitor the ceasefire and prepare for a referendum - which has not yet taken place. According to the UN, in June it had 359 civilian and military members. The Bundeswehr has also been taking part with unarmed military observers since 2013. According to the latest information, up to three German soldiers are alternately involved in the mission.

Map of Morocco, Western Sahara and Algeria.

Western Sahara was a Spanish colony until 1975 and is now largely controlled by Morocco. The Polisario Front, supported by neighboring Algeria, is calling for the area's independence. In 2025, at the initiative of the USA, the UN Security Council described the Moroccan autonomy plan as the “most feasible solution”.

Since the mid-1970s, refugees from Western Sahara have been waiting in Algerian refugee camps for a political solution to the conflict over the former Spanish colony. more

All personnel and material from the UN operation should now leave the area quickly, according to a statement from the Moroccan royal family. However, Morocco emphasized that it would continue to respect the ceasefire.

The aid organization Oxfam warns that stopping surveillance and de-escalation missions would endanger the security and stability of the region. This could have serious consequences for the civilian population and the prospects for a peaceful solution.

With information from Stefan Ehlert, ARD Studio North Africa

This topic in the program: tagesschau.de | "Western Sahara: UN peacekeeping mission faces demise" | October 31, 2026 | 4:39 p.m