UN Withdraws From Western Sahara After US-Russia Veto Clash

Residents of Western Sahara will no longer see United Nations peacekeepers in their daily lives starting November 1, 2026. The organization confirmed the end of its 35-year mission on Sunday, a move that concludes a long-standing international presence in the disputed region.

The decision followed a stalemate in the UN Security Council. On Friday, Russia vetoed a United States resolution that would have supported Morocco's sovereignty over the territory. A subsequent Russian draft to extend the peacekeeping mandate was also rejected. This sequence of votes left the mission without a renewed mandate, triggering an immediate liquidation phase.

Stephane Dujarric, spokesperson for the UN Secretary-General, outlined the next steps in a written release. He stated that a smaller team will oversee the transfer of troop assets to their home countries. The team will also handle the proper disposition of UN equipment. This group will report to the UN Operational Support Department.

Western Sahara is a desert territory roughly the size of Colorado, located on the Atlantic coast of northwestern Africa. It is rich in minerals and fish. Spain previously governed the area, but Morocco and the independence-backed Polisario Front both claim it. The UN classifies the region as a non-self-governing territory. Rabat, the Moroccan capital, controls most of the land, excluding a narrow strip known as the free zone east of a sand berm.

The conflict has deep roots. After Morocco annexed the territory in 1975, an armed conflict lasting more than 15 years claimed over 16,000 lives on both sides, according to the French Senate. Morocco views full sovereignty over the region as a core foreign policy goal. It has gained support from Washington, Paris, and London, and often refers to the area as its southern provinces.

Reaction to the mission's end was divided. The Moroccan palace called the non-renewal a positive step, describing the UN presence as an instrument for internationalizing the dispute. The Polisario Front, backed by Algeria, called the decision unacceptable. The Algerian foreign ministry deeply regretted the outcome and criticized the perceived bias in the US proposal.