NEW YORK - The United Nations General Assembly resumed its debate on Wednesday over the future of Western Sahara, following Russia’s veto of a US-sponsored Security Council resolution that would have renewed the mandate of the United Nations Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara (MINURSO) and reaffirmed Morocco’s autonomy plan as the basis for negotiations.
The debate, which began on Tuesday, 10 November, was convened under General Assembly Resolution 76/262, which provides for a plenary meeting whenever a permanent member of the Security Council exercises its veto. More than 30 countries took the floor during the first session, with a further 55 delegations and several regional groups registered to speak on Wednesday.
The diplomatic confrontation follows the Security Council's failure on 30 October to adopt two competing draft resolutions. The US-sponsored text, which received 11 votes in favour, was blocked by Russia, while an alternative Russian proposal to extend MINURSO's mandate for another year received only three votes in favour, with 11 abstentions and one vote against from the United States. Consequently, the mission's mandate expired on 31 October, ending its 35-year UN peacekeeping presence in the territory.
During Tuesday's debate, Washington defended its proposal, arguing that the Moroccan autonomy initiative, supported by Security Council Resolution 2797 (2025), provides a basis for advancing the political process. The US delegation also questioned the effectiveness of maintaining a mission whose original objective of organising a self-determination referendum has remained unfulfilled for more than three decades.
Russia, meanwhile, defended its veto, arguing that the American draft marginalised the Polisario Front and risked imposing a political settlement without adequately considering the Sahrawi people's right to self-determination. Moscow maintained that its alternative proposal would have preserved the UN presence through a technical extension of the mission's mandate.
Algeria welcomed Russia's decision, describing the American initiative as a departure from the established UN framework for resolving the conflict. Its representative warned that endorsing a predetermined solution would undermine the credibility of the international organisation and the principle of self-determination.
Morocco's representative, in turn, accused Algeria of obstructing efforts to reach a lasting political settlement and defended Rabat's autonomy proposal as the basis for resolving the dispute. The Moroccan delegation also reiterated its position that the responsibility for the prolonged diplomatic deadlock lies with Algeria.
The European Union expressed concern over the abrupt termination of MINURSO, warning that the withdrawal of the UN mission removes the only dedicated international monitoring mechanism for the 1991 ceasefire and could increase the risk of instability and miscalculations in the region. Finland, speaking on behalf of the Nordic countries, also warned of the potential security vacuum resulting from the mission's closure.
Namibia, meanwhile, supported the Russian veto, arguing that the US-backed draft risked prejudging the territory's final status and weakening the internationally recognised framework for decolonisation.
Established in 1991 under Security Council Resolution 690, MINURSO was tasked with monitoring the ceasefire between Morocco and the Polisario Front and preparing a referendum on self-determination. The vote was never held, largely because of disagreements over voter eligibility and the political future of the territory. The mission has now entered the liquidation process following the expiry of its mandate.
The General Assembly debate provides an opportunity for member states to scrutinise the use of the veto and discuss its political and security implications. However, it cannot overturn Russia's decision or independently renew MINURSO's mandate, leaving the future of the UN-led process over Western Sahara uncertain.
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