Morocco welcomed the United Nations Security Council’s decision not to renew the mandate of the UN Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara (MINURSO), calling it a decisive step toward closing the protracted territorial dispute at the world body.

In a statement by the Royal Office on October 30, 2026 and published by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Kingdom described the outcome as “a major development and a significant step toward the definitive closure of the Moroccan Sahara issue at the United Nations.”

The announcement came on the eve of the mission’s mandate expiration and coincided with Morocco’s Unity Day, proclaimed by King Mohammed VI.

According to the Royal Office, the non-renewal “clearly means that the Mission’s presence in the Southern provinces of the Kingdom, particularly through its personnel, vehicles, equipment, and symbols, is expected to cease in the coming days.”

It further described the development as the end of “a 35-year chapter,” arguing that MINURSO, “rooted in an anachronistic and outdated context,” had long served as a tool for internationalising what Rabat views as Morocco’s legitimate recovery of its Saharan provinces.

Morocco argues that the non-renewal should also mark the end of the Security Council’s consideration of the matter.

“Consequently, the Council’s periodic statutory meetings on the Moroccan Sahara, the related reports of the United Nations Secretary-General, and the briefings by his Personal Envoy would no longer be necessary,” read part of the statement from Morocco’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs.  

The Kingdom hailed the fact that the UN political process, which Morocco accused other parties of obstructing through “procrastination” and “stubbornness in creating deadlocks,” was now suspended.

It also expects other UN bodies to take similar steps in the coming days.

At the same time, Morocco reaffirmed its commitment to the ceasefire “with strict respect for its territorial integrity, national security, and the tranquility of its citizens.”

The statement also highlighted continued international support for Morocco’s autonomy proposal under Moroccan sovereignty, noting that more than two-thirds of UN members endorse it as the only framework for ending the longstanding conflict.

Morocco’s Sovereignty Push 

MINURSO was established in 1991 following a ceasefire between Morocco and the Algeria-backed Polisario Front, which seeks independence for the territory as the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic.

The mission’s original mandate was to organise a referendum on self-determination, but the vote never took place due to persistent disagreements over voter eligibility.

Morocco controls roughly 80 per cent of Western Sahara and considers it an integral part of its territory, having administered the region since Spain’s withdrawal in 1975.

In recent years, momentum has shifted toward Morocco’s 2007 autonomy plan, which offers substantial self-rule under Moroccan sovereignty.

The United States recognised Moroccan sovereignty over the territory in 2020, and several European and African countries have since endorsed the autonomy initiative as a realistic path forward.

Security Council Deadlock

The non-renewal followed a rare dual-veto deadlock at the Security Council on October 30.

A U.S.-drafted resolution that would have extended the mission for one year, reduced its military component, and removed the reference to a referendum from its name received 11 votes in favour but was blocked by a Russian veto, with China, Pakistan, and Somalia abstaining.

A subsequent Russian draft seeking a straightforward one-year extension without changes secured only three votes in favour, one against (the United States), and 11 abstentions.

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