End of MINURSO: Closing the Moroccan Sahara File at the UN

The UN Security Council has decided not to renew the mandate of MINURSO, marking a turning point in the Moroccan Sahara conflict. This decision, made during a meeting on October 30, 2026, is seen by Rabat as a strong signal in favor of a political solution. Morocco highlights that this development represents a major progress in the search for a sustainable resolution to a conflict that has divided the region for decades. The United Nations organization, tasked with monitoring the withdrawal of Moroccan forces from the Sahara, has completed its mandate after more than three decades of intervention. This withdrawal is part of the negotiations conducted with the Polisario, a movement for the liberation of the Sahara. Morocco asserts that the end of MINURSO opens the way to a final agreement, while emphasizing the importance of Moroccan sovereignty over the territory. This decision has sparked mixed reactions. While Morocco sees it as the fulfillment of its diplomatic policy, some regional actors and pro-independence groups express reservations. The end of MINURSO could, however, mark the end of an era and the opening of a new phase for the Sahara, under the shadow of negotiations that still need to reach a consensus.