The United Nations Security Council is conducting a periodic review of its peacekeeping mission in Western Sahara, MINURSO (United Nations Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara). The review comes amid ongoing diplomatic tensions over the territory's final status, which remains one of the world's longest-running unresolved conflicts.
MINURSO was established in 1991 to monitor a ceasefire between Morocco and the Polisario Front and to organize a referendum on self-determination. However, that referendum has never been held. The mission's mandate is routinely renewed, with its current authorization set to expire in October 2026.
Recent discussions in the Security Council have highlighted divisions among member states. Some support Morocco's autonomy plan for the region, while others continue to call for a referendum that includes independence as an option, aligning with the Polisario Front's position. The review process assesses the mission's operational effectiveness and political context.
The situation on the ground remains tense, with a ceasefire largely holding since 1991 but periodically challenged. The UN Secretary-General's latest reports continue to emphasize the need for a renewed political process to achieve a just, lasting, and mutually acceptable solution.
