New York:UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has issued a warning about the potential for military escalation in Western Sahara following the conclusion of the United Nations' 35-year peacekeeping mission in the disputed region.
According to Anadolu Agency – English, Guterres expressed concern about the security situation and the risk of escalating hostilities. His spokesperson, Stephane Dujarric, emphasized the need for all parties to exercise maximum restraint and avoid actions that could increase tensions or destabilize the region.
The United Nations Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara (MINURSO) officially ended its operations after the UN Security Council failed to renew its mandate past October 31. A smaller UN team is now tasked with the liquidation process, which includes repatriating equipment and managing UN-owned assets.
Despite the mission's end, Guterres reaffirmed the Western Sahara people's right to self-determination and paid tribute to the mission's personnel, including 20 who lost their lives. Although peacekeeping has ceased, political negotiations will continue, led by the UN chief's personal envoy, Staffan de Mistura.
The mission's termination came after a Russian veto blocked a US-drafted resolution for its extension. Western Sahara remains a central issue in North African diplomacy, with Morocco proposing autonomy under its sovereignty, while the Polisario Front, backed by Algeria, seeks a referendum on self-determination. The conflict, originating in 1975 with Spain's withdrawal, led to a 1991 ceasefire between Morocco and the Polisario Front.