NEW YORK — The UN peacekeeping mission in Western Sahara faces an uncertain future after rival US and Russian resolutions failed at the Security Council on Friday, with the mandate due to expire on Saturday.
Russia vetoed the US draft despite support from 11 of the council’s 15 members. A Russian alternative then failed to win the nine votes needed, Al Jazeera reported.
The US text would have extended the mission, known as MINURSO, for a year while dropping “referendum” from its name and making Morocco’s autonomy plan the only basis for talks. Russia’s ambassador, Vassily Nebenzia, said it favoured one side.
Morocco’s royal palace welcomed the outcome and said UN personnel and equipment should leave the territory. The Algeria-backed Polisario Front, which seeks independence, welcomed the veto. MINURSO was set up in 1991 to monitor a ceasefire and prepare a referendum that has never been held.
Sources: Al Jazeera, United Nations
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