# U.N. Peacekeepers Leave Western Sahara

> UN peacekeeping mission ends in Western Sahara after 35-year deadlock.
- Title: U.N. Peacekeepers Leave Western Sahara · Foreign Policy
- Summary: UN peacekeeping mission ends in Western Sahara after 35-year deadlock. The UN mission in Western Sahara ends as US and Russia veto each other over the…
- Keywords: western sahara, morocco, polisario front, minurso, referendum, sahrawi refugees, algeria, Foreign Policy
- Source: Foreign Policy — https://foreignpolicy.com/2026/11/04/un-peacekeeping-mission-western-sahara-africa-morocco
- Author: Nosmot Gbadamosi
- Published: 2026-11-05T00:00:00+00:00
- Read time: 2 min
- Topics: un, western sahara, morocco, polisario front, minurso, referendum, sahrawi refugees, algeria
## UN Mission Ends
A deadlock between the United States and Russia at the United Nations Security Council ended a 35-year-old peacekeeping mission in Western Sahara.
## Mission Background
The U.N. Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara (MINURSO) was established in 1991 to monitor a cease-fire after a 15-year armed conflict between Morocco and the Algeria-backed Polisario Front.
## Referendum Stalled
The referendum for Sahrawi self-determination has stalled for decades, with a U.S.draft resolution last month seeking to remove 'referendum' from the mission’s name and make semi-autonomy under Moroccan sovereignty the sole basis for future negotiations.
## Russia Veto
Russia vetoed the U.S. plan to scale back the peacekeeping force by April 2027, instead proposing a one-year extension without imposing terms that favored Morocco.
## U.S. Response
The United States voted down Russia’s rival proposal, leading to the mission’s mandate expiring on Sunday, November 6, 2026.
## Historical Context
Morocco annexed Western Sahara in 1975, displacing over 100,000 people, and currently controls around 80 percent of the territory.
## Refugee Crisis
More than 160,000 Sahrawi refugees live in camps hosted by Algeria, with international aid groups denouncing the UN Security Council’s failure to renew the mission.
## US Recognition
In 2020, during President Donald Trump’s first term, the United States recognized Rabat’s sovereignty over Western Sahara in exchange for Morocco reestablishing diplomatic relations with Israel.
## Russia’s Stance
Russia’s position has been driven by its close geopolitical and economic alliance with Algeria, which backs the Sahrawi liberation movement.
## US Election Impact
The U.S. midterm elections on Tuesday could lead to a more nuanced stance from Washington on Western Sahara, but immediate reversal is unlikely.
## Diplomatic Exchange
Mike Waltz, the U.S. ambassador to the UN, said Russia’s veto prevents 'historic steps toward finally ending a 50-year conflict.'

> historic steps toward finally ending a 50-year conflict
## Polisario Front Warning
Sidi Omar, the Polisario Front’s UN representative, warned that the U.S. resolution would 'not only torpedo the foundations of the UN peace process but also set a dangerous precedent.'

> not only torpedo the foundations of the un peace process but also set a dangerous precedent
## Analyst Critique
Hugh Lovatt, a senior policy fellow at the European Council on Foreign Relations, wrote that Washington has 'closed the space for negotiations and risks creating regional instability.'

> closed the space for negotiations and risks creating regional instability
## Withdrawal Process
A small UN team is supervising a phased withdrawal of peacekeepers and the return of military vehicles to troop-contributing nations like Egypt, Ghana, and Pakistan.
## Security Concerns
Security observers fear renewed fighting in Western Sahara as Morocco may be emboldened to send troops to grab more territory.
## Key takeaway

The UN mission in Western Sahara ends as US and Russia veto each other over the territory's future.