# UN peacekeeping mission in Western Sahara ends after 35 years

> The UN's longest-running peacekeeping operation in the disputed territory closes as Russia and the US clash over Morocco's sovereignty claims.
- Title: UN peacekeeping mission in Western Sahara ends after 35 years
- Summary: The UN's longest-running peacekeeping operation in the disputed territory closes as Russia and the US clash over Morocco's sovereignty claims. The UN's…
- Keywords: western sahara, united nations, peacekeeping, morocco, polisario front, algeria, minurso, territorial dispute, news, mission, Western, Sahara
- Source: NPR — https://npr.org/2026/11/02/nx-s1-6026050/uns-peacekeeping-western-sahara-ends
- Published: 2026-11-02T00:00:00+00:00
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: western sahara, united nations, peacekeeping, morocco, polisario front, algeria, minurso, territorial dispute, news
## UN mission ends after 35 years
The UN's peacekeeping mission for disputed Western Sahara ceased operations Sunday after thirty five years, following a US-Russia standoff at UN headquarters over the territory's future.
## What is Western Sahara
Western Sahara is a vast desert territory roughly the size of Colorado along Africa's northwestern Atlantic coast, rich in minerals and fisheries.
## How the mission ended
Russia vetoed a US resolution supporting Morocco's sovereignty demand and ending the mission next year. A rival Russian resolution to extend the mission was voted down, leading to an abrupt end of the force's mandate.
## Morocco welcomes the closure
Morocco's royal palace welcomed the non-renewal of the mission, calling it an instrument to internationalize the dispute. Rabat has secured backing from Washington, Paris and London for its sovereignty claim.

> instrument to internationalize the dispute
## Polisario and Algeria object
The Polisario Front, backed by Algeria, called the decision unacceptable. Algeria's foreign ministry said it profoundly regrets the non-renewal and criticized what it called the excessive bias of the US draft resolution.

> unacceptable decision
## The dispute's violent history
After Morocco annexed Western Sahara in nineteen seventy five, the dispute escalated into armed conflict lasting more than fifteen years and claiming more than sixteen thousand lives on both sides, according to the French Senate.
## The referendum that never happened
A UN-brokered ceasefire took effect in nineteen ninety one, paving the way for MINURSO, established to monitor a referendum on self-determination.
## Risks of escalation ahead
The Polisario withdrew from the ceasefire in twenty twenty after clashes. The UN secretary-general remains concerned about security and risks escalation of hostilities, calling on all parties to exercise maximum restraint.
## Key takeaway

The UN's thirty five year peacekeeping mission in Western Sahara ended November first after Russia vetoed a US resolution backing Morocco's sovereignty, raising regional stability concerns.