UN ends 35-year peace mission in Western Sahara as Guterres backs political solution

UNITED NATIONS: Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has said the United Nations will continue to support a just, lasting and mutually acceptable political solution that ensures the right of the people of Western Sahara to self-determination.

Meanwhile, the UN peace mission in the region has begun the process of ending its operations.

In a statement issued by the UN spokesperson, the Secretary-General said the departure of the United Nations Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara did not end or affect the right of the people of Western Sahara to self-determination, as it was their inalienable right.

The statement urged all parties to respect the rights of the people of Western Sahara and take steps to protect them.

The Security Council failed on Friday to reach agreement on the future of the mission. As a result, its mandate expired on the night between Saturday and Sunday.

Russia vetoed a draft resolution put forward by the United States. An alternative draft presented by Russia failed to win the minimum nine votes needed to extend the mission further. Pakistan abstained on both resolutions.

Pakistan stressed that a mutually acceptable political solution should be found through dialogue and consensus among all parties.

According to the spokesperson, despite the end of the mission’s operations, the United Nations will continue efforts for a peaceful solution through the Secretary-General’s Personal Envoy for Western Sahara, Staffan de Mistura.

The Secretary-General praised the central role of MINURSO since 1991 in monitoring the ceasefire and creating conditions favourable to a political solution.

He thanked all the mission’s personnel, especially the Special Representative for Western Sahara, Alexander Ivanko, who led the mission through an extremely difficult period after clashes resumed in 2020.

The Secretary-General also paid tribute to the 20 personnel who lost their lives during the mission’s 35 years.