Islamabad, October 31, 2026 (FLARE News): Morocco’s Royal Cabinet has welcomed the reported non-renewal of the mandate of the United Nations Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara (MINURSO), describing the development as a significant step towards bringing the long-standing Sahara dispute to a close.
In a statement issued on October 30, the Royal Cabinet said the UN Security Council had failed to renew the mission’s mandate following disagreements over competing resolutions.
According to the statement, Russia vetoed a United States-backed draft resolution supported by 11 of the Security Council’s 15 members. The proposed resolution sought to establish autonomy under Moroccan sovereignty as the basis for future negotiations. A Russian counter-proposal seeking a one-year extension of the existing mission without substantial changes was also rejected, with the United States voting against it.
The Royal Cabinet described the outcome as a major diplomatic development, declaring that a 35-year chapter in the history of the UN mission had come to an end. It said non-renewal should lead to the withdrawal of the mission’s personnel, vehicles, equipment and other operational assets from Morocco’s southern provinces in the coming days.
Established in 1991, MINURSO has played a central role in the United Nations’ involvement in the Western Sahara dispute. The Royal Cabinet argued that the latest development should pave the way for removing the Sahara issue from the Security Council’s agenda and ending periodic meetings, reports and briefings relating to the dispute.
The statement linked the development to King Mohammed VI’s diplomatic strategy and the celebration of the Feast of Unity, which it said symbolizes a shift in Morocco’s approach towards the Sahara issue. It reiterated Morocco’s position that autonomy under Moroccan sovereignty represents the appropriate framework for resolving the regional dispute.
According to the Royal Cabinet, more than two-thirds of UN member states, including influential international powers, support Morocco’s autonomy initiative.
Despite welcoming the development, Morocco reaffirmed its commitment to maintaining the ceasefire while safeguarding its territorial integrity, national security and the safety of its citizens. The Royal Cabinet said diplomatic efforts initiated under King Mohammed VI would continue at bilateral and regional levels to strengthen international support for Morocco’s position.
The statement represents Morocco’s interpretation of the Security Council developments and their implications for the future of MINURSO and the wider UN political process.
