Moroccan Sahara: Washington Defends Historic Autonomy Path as UN Initiates MINURSO Liquidation Phase

RABAT (FesNews Media) — The Moroccan Sahara file has entered a historic new chapter following the expiration of the United Nations Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara (MINURSO) mandate on October 31, 2026, and the formal commencement of the mission’s liquidation procedures on November 1.

UN Begins Orderly Wind-Down of Military Observation Component

In an official statement delivered by spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric, UN Secretary-General António Guterres confirmed that MINURSO entered its liquidation period effective November 1 after the Security Council did not renew its mandate. A dedicated transition team under the UN Department of Operational Support has been tasked with coordinating the repatriation of military personnel and the disposition of UN equipment, while Special Representative Alexander Ivanko and mission staff were commended for their service since 1991.

Political Process Continues Under Personal Envoy Staffan de Mistura

Despite the termination of MINURSO’s field peacekeeping component, the United Nations emphasized that the political track remains active through Personal Envoy Staffan de Mistura. Meanwhile, Washington defended its diplomatic draft as a historic pathway toward lasting peace anchored in Morocco’s Autonomy Initiative—recognized by the Security Council on October 31, 2025, as the serious, credible, and realistic basis for a final settlement—as Moroccan political parties rallied unanimously behind His Majesty King Mohammed VI.