UN Peacekeepers Pull Out of Western Sahara

The United Nations peacekeeping mission in Western Sahara stopped operating on Sunday.

The withdrawal follows a sharp disagreement between the United States and Russia at the U.N. Security Council earlier this week. The two permanent members failed to agree on the future of the territory, leading to the abrupt end of the mandate.

Stéphane Dujarric, a spokesperson for the U.N. secretary general, stated that November 1, 2026, began the liquidation period. A smaller team under the Department of Operational Support will now manage the move. Their task involves transporting assets back to troop-contributing countries and disposing of U.N. equipment.

Russia vetoed a draft U.S. resolution on Friday. That U.S. plan supported Morocco's claim to sovereignty and proposed ending the mission next year. A rival Russian draft aimed at extending the mission was then voted down. The deadlock forced the immediate conclusion of the force's current term.

Morocco and the pro-independence Polisario Front reacted differently to the news. The Moroccan royal palace welcomed the decision, describing the mission as a tool to internationalize the dispute. The Polisario Front, backed by Algeria, called the move an unacceptable decision. The Algerian foreign ministry expressed profound regret and criticized the U.S. draft for excessive bias.

Western Sahara is a vast desert territory roughly the size of Colorado. It lies along Africa's northwestern Atlantic coast and is rich in minerals and fisheries. The region was previously ruled by Spain. Morocco currently administers most of the land, except for a narrow free zone east of a sand wall.

The conflict began after Morocco annexed the territory in 1975. An armed conflict lasted more than 15 years. According to the French Senate, more than 16,000 people died on both sides. The U.N. established the mission in 1991 to monitor a cease-fire and a planned referendum on self-determination. That vote never took place due to disputes over voter eligibility lists.

Twenty peacekeepers died while serving in the mission. The force was authorized for 534 personnel. Its budget for 2026 and 2027 exceeded $62 million. Egypt, Ghana, and Pakistan were the top military contributors. The U.N. secretary general called on all parties to exercise maximum restraint. He expressed concern about the security situation and the risk of escalation. The Polisario withdrew from the cease-fire in 2020, and tensions have remained high since then.