conv.

All stories
WorldQuiet 7d · day 8

Russia vetoes UN resolution on Western Sahara, MINURSO mandate expires

A US-backed bid to extend the UN peacekeeping mission in disputed Western Sahara fails after Russia's veto, leaving Morocco celebrating and the territory's future uncertain.

newest coverage 7d agosummary written 7d ago5 pieces MastodonGoogle NewsNewswires

What to know

  • Russia blocked a US resolution to extend MINURSO, the UN peacekeeping mission in disputed Western Sahara, allowing its mandate to expire on Saturday despite backing from 11 of 15 Security Council members.
  • The US proposal would have extended the mission for one year and removed 'referendum' from its name, cementing Morocco's autonomy plan as the basis for talks; Russia argued it favoured one side.
  • Morocco welcomed the mandate's lapse and called for UN personnel to withdraw and the dispute to be removed from the Security Council, while Algeria expressed regret.
  • The 1991 ceasefire in Western Sahara, monitored by MINURSO since its establishment, now lacks UN oversight as the dispute over the territory's future remains unresolved.

“would have moved the 50-year conflict forward”

Mike Waltz, US ambassador to the UN · Al Jazeera ↗

Morocco Claimant state; celebrates mandate expirationRussia UN Security Council permanent memberUnited States UN Security Council permanent member; resolution sponsorAlgeria Regional actor; backer of Polisario FrontMike WaltzMike Waltz US ambassador to the UNVassily Nebenzia Russia's UN ambassador

Russia vetoes UN resolution on Western Sahara, MINURSO mandate expires
aljazeera.com

How it unfolded 2 developments, newest first · click a bar or a number to jump articlesposts

Peak 3 pieces in two hours at Nov 1, 8 AM; 5 pieces over 8 days (2 articles · 3 posts) Oct 31, 1 PM — 1 piece · 1 article — Google News 1Oct 31, 3 PM — quietOct 31, 5 PM — quietOct 31, 7 PM — quietOct 31, 9 PM — quietOct 31, 11 PM — quietNov 1, 1 AM — quietNov 1, 2 AM — quietNov 1, 4 AM — quietNov 1, 6 AM — quietNov 1, 8 AM — 3 pieces · 1 article · 2 posts — Mastodon 2, Newswires 1Nov 1, 10 AM — 1 piece · 1 post — Mastodon 1Nov 1, 12 PM — quietNov 1, 2 PM — quietNov 1, 4 PM — quietNov 1, 6 PM — quietNov 1, 8 PM — quietNov 1, 10 PM — quietNov 2, 12 AM — quietNov 2, 2 AM — quietNov 2, 4 AM — quietNov 2, 6 AM — quietNov 2, 8 AM — quietNov 2, 10 AM — quietNov 2, 12 PM — quietNov 2, 2 PM — quietNov 2, 4 PM — quietNov 2, 6 PM — quietNov 2, 8 PM — quietNov 2, 10 PM — quietNov 3, 12 AM — quietNov 3, 2 AM — quietNov 3, 4 AM — quietNov 3, 6 AM — quietNov 3, 8 AM — quietNov 3, 10 AM — quietNov 3, 12 PM — quietNov 3, 2 PM — quietNov 3, 4 PM — quietNov 3, 6 PM — quietNov 3, 8 PM — quietNov 3, 10 PM — quietNov 4, 12 AM — quietNov 4, 2 AM — quietNov 4, 4 AM — quietNov 4, 6 AM — quietNov 4, 8 AM — quietNov 4, 10 AM — quietNov 4, 12 PM — quietNov 4, 2 PM — quietNov 4, 4 PM — quietNov 4, 6 PM — quietNov 4, 8 PM — quietNov 4, 10 PM — quietNov 5, 12 AM — quietNov 5, 2 AM — quietNov 5, 4 AM — quietNov 5, 6 AM — quietNov 5, 8 AM — quietNov 5, 10 AM — quietNov 5, 12 PM — quietNov 5, 2 PM — quietNov 5, 4 PM — quietNov 5, 6 PM — quietNov 5, 8 PM — quietNov 5, 10 PM — quietNov 6, 12 AM — quietNov 6, 2 AM — quietNov 6, 4 AM — quietNov 6, 6 AM — quietNov 6, 8 AM — quietNov 6, 10 AM — quietNov 6, 12 PM — quietNov 6, 2 PM — quietNov 6, 4 PM — quietNov 6, 6 PM — quietNov 6, 8 PM — quietNov 6, 10 PM — quietYesterday, 12 AM — quietYesterday, 2 AM — quietYesterday, 4 AM — quietYesterday, 6 AM — quietYesterday, 8 AM — quietYesterday, 10 AM — quietYesterday, 12 PM — quietYesterday, 2 PM — quietYesterday, 4 PM — quietYesterday, 6 PM — quietYesterday, 8 PM — quietYesterday, 10 PM — quietToday, 12 AM — quietToday, 2 AM — quietToday, 4 AM — quietToday, 6 AM — quietToday, 8 AM — quietToday, 10 AM — quiet 12
Nov 1Nov 2Nov 3Nov 4Nov 5Nov 6yesterdaynow · 12:41 PM ET
  1. 2

    Algeria expresses regret over MINURSO mandate lapse

    Algeria's foreign ministry expressed regret over the failure to renew MINURSO's mandate and criticised the outcome, according to reports on Saturday.

    “We stress the fact that the Security Council cannot automatically predetermine matters relating to sovereignty.”
    — Vassily Nebenzia, Russia's UN ambassador · source
  2. background

    Morocco's royal palace welcomes MINURSO's failure — Morocco welcomed the defeat of the US resolution. The royal palace called for UN personnel and equipment to leave the territory and for the Western Sahara issue to be withdrawn from the Security Council's consideration. Morocco said it remained committed to the ceasefire.

  3. background

    MINURSO mandate expires after failed renewal votes — MINURSO's mandate officially expired on Saturday after both the US and Russian resolutions failed to pass. The mission has 155 military personnel and was set to cost $62 million annually. The expiration leaves the future of the peacekeeping operation in limbo.

  4. 1

    Russia's alternative resolution also fails

    Russia proposed renewing MINURSO's existing mandate without the US-proposed changes. That draft also failed to gain the nine votes needed for adoption, receiving only two votes in favour, one against, and 11 abstentions.

    1. 1 outlet Why is Morocco celebrating the defeat of a UN resolution on Western Sahara?

      first by Al Jazeera, 7d ago

  5. background

    Mike Waltz criticises Russian veto as obstructive — US ambassador Mike Waltz said it was unfortunate that the veto was used to 'preserve the letter R' in the mission's name and argued that Washington's proposal would have advanced the 50-year conflict, calling the status quo unacceptable.

  6. background

    Russia vetoes US resolution on Western Sahara — Russia vetoed the US-drafted resolution despite backing from 11 of the 15 Security Council members, including permanent members France and the UK. Vassily Nebenzia, Russia's UN ambassador, stated Moscow opposed the draft because it favoured one side and that the Security Council cannot automatically predetermine sovereignty matters.

  7. background

    US proposes resolution to extend MINURSO mandate — The United States, as a permanent Security Council member, put forward a resolution aimed at extending the UN Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara (MINURSO) for one year. The draft would have removed 'referendum' from the mission's name and made Morocco's autonomy proposal the sole basis for future negotiations.