# Morocco Celebrates UN Mission End in Western Sahara

> Morocco marks UN peacekeeping mission's end after Security Council deadlock over Western Sahara's future.
- Title: Morocco Celebrates UN Mission End in Western Sahara · BBC News
- Summary: Morocco marks UN peacekeeping mission's end after Security Council deadlock over Western Sahara's future. Morocco celebrates UN mission's end as it pushes…
- Keywords: western sahara, morocco, un mission, minurso, polisario front, un security council, autonomy plan, sahrawi arab democratic republic, sahrawi people, ceasefire, un referendum, green march
- Source: BBC News — https://bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cqp8genleg2ro
- Published: 2026-11-03T07:29:46.525+00:00
- Read time: 2 min
- Topics: western sahara, morocco, un mission, minurso, polisario front, un security council, autonomy plan, sahrawi arab democratic republic, sahrawi people, ceasefire, un referendum, green march
## UN Mission Ends After Council Deadlock
Morocco welcomed the end of UN peacekeeping mission in Western Sahara after US and Russia failed to agree on its future mandate.
## Security Council Vetoed Renewal Proposals
Russia vetoed a US-backed proposal to extend Minurso's mandate, and a rival Russian draft also failed to secure enough votes.
## Western Sahara Dispute Background
Western Sahara was a Spanish colony until 1975 with phosphate reserves and fishing grounds, claimed by Morocco and Mauritania after Spain withdrew.
## Green March and Madrid Accords
Morocco's Green March in 1975 saw 350,000 civilians enter Western Sahara, leading to Spain signing Madrid Accords with Morocco and Mauritania.
## Polisario Front's Stance
The Polisario Front, an independence movement founded in 1973, opposed the Madrid Accords and has fought for Western Sahara's independence for over 50 years.
## UN Mission's Role
After 1991 ceasefire, UN established Minurso to monitor the ceasefire and organize a referendum on Western Sahara's future.
## Referendum Failure
The referendum scheduled for 1992 never took place due to disputes over voter identification and eligibility.
## Autonomy Proposal
Morocco proposed autonomy in 2007, allowing Sahrawis to manage internal affairs while Morocco retained control over defense and foreign relations.
## Polisario Rejection
The Polisario Front and Algeria rejected Morocco's autonomy proposal, insisting on a referendum that included independence as an option.
## 2025 UN Resolution
In 2025, UN Security Council voted to back Morocco's autonomy plan as the 'most feasible' solution for Western Sahara.
## Morocco's Celebration
Morocco celebrated the mission's end with footage of people waving Moroccan flags and displaying portraits of King Mohammed VI.
## Expert Analysis
Moroccan expert Issam Laaroussi said the decision gives Morocco more room to push its autonomy proposal and shift negotiations toward autonomy under Moroccan sovereignty.
## International Support
Morocco gained support from at least 10 African countries and the US recognized its sovereignty over Western Sahara in 2020.
## Potential for Renewed Conflict
Morocco's exit from UN mission could lead to renewed fighting, with Algeria and other countries increasing military spending over Western Sahara.
## Key takeaway

Morocco celebrates UN mission's end as it pushes for autonomy plan, claiming the UN's failure to resolve Western Sahara dispute gives it leverage to negotiate.