The departure of the United Nations peacekeeping mission in Western Sahara has left a security vacuum in the disputed territory, raising concerns about a possible resumption of armed conflict as regional tensions mount.
The mission, known as MINURSO, ceased operations on November 1, 2026, after 35 years in the region. Al Jazeera reported that the force was originally established in 1991 to monitor a ceasefire and prepare a referendum on the territory’s future. The mandate expired after the UN Security Council failed to renew it during a vote on October 30, 2026.
United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres warned of a potential escalation of hostilities following the expiry of the mandate. Stéphane Dujarric, spokesperson for the UN secretary-general, stated that November 1 marked the start of the “liquidation period” for the peacekeeping mission, with assets being transported back to troop-contributing countries.
Foreign Minister Nasser Bourita stated that the end of the mission does not mean the end of the ceasefire, adding that Rabat remains committed to it “within respect of its security and sovereignty.” Meanwhile, the Polisario Front has not yet announced its next steps.
Diplomatic Impasse at the Security Council
The abrupt end of the peacekeeping operation stems from a diplomatic standoff at UN headquarters between the United States and Russia. Al Jazeera reported that the U.S. proposed a resolution that would have extended the mission for a year, removed the word “referendum” from its name, and made Morocco’s autonomy proposal the sole basis for future talks. Russia vetoed the draft, and a competing Russian resolution was subsequently defeated.
🇲🇦🇩🇿 The UN’s peacekeeping mission in Western Sahara just shut down after 35 years. Western Sahara is a huge desert strip on Africa’s Atlantic coast that both Morocco and an Algeria-backed independence movement called the Polisario Front claim as their own. UN troops arrived in… pic.twitter.com/f08Q3YHVek
U.S. Ambassador to the UN Mike Waltz called it unfortunate that the veto was used to preserve the letter R in the mission’s name for a referendum, adding that the status quo is unacceptable. Russian UN Ambassador Vassily Nebenzia countered that Moscow opposed the draft because it favored one side, emphasizing that the Security Council cannot automatically predetermine matters relating to sovereignty.
Morocco’s royal palace described the non-renewal as a significant development in withdrawing the Western Sahara issue from the Security Council’s consideration. Conversely, Algeria’s Foreign Ministry expressed deep regret over the outcome, criticizing the excessive bias of the U.S. draft resolution. The Polisario Front similarly voiced concern over the deadlock in the Security Council.
Security Risks and Regional Military Spending
The fear among international observers is that MINURSO’s departure could lead to renewed fighting. Aid organization Oxfam warned that losing the mission’s monitoring and de-escalation role could undermine stability, with serious consequences for civilians. Laaroussi acknowledged that the mission’s departure could create security gaps, noting that while the mission’s exit does not create the original conflict, it could aggravate an already fragile security environment.
Any resumption of fighting could draw in Algeria, as diplomatic relations between Rabat and Algiers remain severed since 2021. According to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI), both countries significantly increased military spending last year, with the territorial dispute serving as a key driver. Algeria spent an estimated $25.4 billion, which is more than four times Morocco’s $6.3 billion expenditure.
The geopolitical shift has also fueled nationalist rhetoric online. Several Moroccan users have shared AI-generated images of themselves in military uniform, declaring their readiness to fight for sovereignty over Western Sahara. In Morocco, the territory is widely regarded as a national cause, with political parties united in supporting the country’s claim.
