New York: Europe and the Arabs

The UN Secretary-General issued a statement on Sunday regarding developments concerning the Western Sahara dossier, according to the United Nations daily news bulletin—a copy of which we have received. The bulletin notes that, with the cessation of operations by the United Nations Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara (MINURSO) following the Security Council’s failure to extend its mandate, the Secretary-General commended the pivotal role the mission has played since its establishment in 1991 in monitoring the ceasefire and fostering conditions conducive to a political solution.

One day before the expiration of the mandate granted by the UN Security Council, the Council voted on Friday on two draft resolutions—one proposed by the United States and the other by Russia—to extend the mission. Neither draft was adopted; the U.S. proposal was blocked by a Russian veto, while the Russian proposal failed to secure the necessary number of votes from Council members.

UN Spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric issued a press statement today (Sunday) in which Secretary-General António Guterres expressed his deep gratitude to the personnel of MINURSO, including the Special Representative for Western Sahara, Alexander Ivanko, whose "leadership guided the mission’s work during a difficult period following the resumption of hostilities in 2020."

The Secretary-General also paid tribute to the 20 mission personnel who lost their lives during the UN’s 35-year presence in Western Sahara. The UN spokesperson stated that November 1, 2026, will mark the beginning of a liquidation period. During this phase, a small team—reporting to the UN Department of Operational Support—will oversee the orderly transfer of assets belonging to troop-contributing countries back to their respective nations, as well as the appropriate disposal of UN-owned equipment.
The Secretary-General has called upon all parties to cooperate fully to ensure that this process is completed in an orderly manner and as expeditiously as possible.
The UN spokesperson noted: "MINURSO was established to protect and serve the people of Western Sahara, specifically to enable them to exercise their inalienable right to self-determination. The Secretary-General emphasizes that the departure of MINURSO does not negate these inalienable rights, and he urges all parties to respect and uphold the rights of the people of Western Sahara."
The statement added that the Secretary-General remains concerned about the security situation across the region and the risk of an escalation in hostilities.
He urged all concerned parties to exercise maximum restraint and to refrain from any actions that could exacerbate tensions or undermine regional stability.
António Guterres reaffirmed the United Nations' commitment to supporting the parties in reaching a just, lasting, and mutually acceptable political solution that secures the right of the people of Western Sahara to self-determination.
While MINURSO’s peacekeeping operations have come to an end, the United Nations remains prepared to continue supporting efforts to foster dialogue and seek a peaceful resolution to the conflict, through the Secretary-General’s Personal Envoy, Staffan de Mistura.