▲ Members of the Polisario Front, who advocate for the independence of Western Sahara
The United Nations Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara (MINURSO), which has carried out peacekeeping missions in the disputed territorial sovereignty region of Western Sahara in Africa, has begun a phased withdrawal.
While the Moroccan government, which has claimed autonomy for the Western Sahara region under Moroccan sovereignty, has welcomed this, concerns are also raised that the conflict could reignite depending on the responses of the Polisario Front, which advocates for independence, and the Algerian government, which supports them.
UN Spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric said during a press briefing yesterday (Nov. 2) local time that "the liquidation of MINURSO will proceed in phases," noting that about 160 military observers will be repatriated, 180 related personnel including civilians will be reduced, and 13 facilities will be closed, according to RIA Novosti.
Dujarric added, "UN Secretary-General António Guterres emphasized that the withdrawal of the mission does not extinguish the inalienable rights of the people of Western Sahara, and urged all parties to respect and promote the rights of the people of Western Sahara."
This withdrawal follows the consecutive defeat of a resolution to extend the mission's mandate at the UN Security Council on October 30, as the United States and Russia clashed over whether to support Morocco's autonomy plan for Western Sahara.
The resolution submitted by the United States presented Morocco's autonomy plan as a viable solution for negotiations, but Russia exercised its veto, and Russia's proposed resolution for a simple extension of the existing mission was also voted down due to a lack of affirmative votes.
Western Sahara escaped Spanish colonial rule in 1975, but a sovereignty dispute began immediately afterward when Morocco and Mauritania took over the administrative rights of the region.
Mauritania dropped its sovereignty claims in 1979, but Morocco has continued to control most of Western Sahara.
The Polisario Front, an independence movement in Western Sahara supported by Algeria, proclaimed the establishment of the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic (SADR) in 1976 and waged an armed struggle against Morocco.
After about 16 years of armed conflict, the UN brokered a ceasefire between the two sides and established MINURSO in 1991.
The mission was tasked not only with monitoring the ceasefire but also with preparing for a referendum to determine the final status of Western Sahara.
A referendum choosing between independence and incorporation into Morocco was originally scheduled to be held in 1992, but it has not taken place to this day due to disagreements over the scope of residents eligible to vote and the issue of voter identity verification.
Morocco proposed a plan to grant autonomy to Western Sahara in 2007.
Under this approach, the people of Western Sahara would manage their internal affairs directly, while the Moroccan government would control defense and diplomacy.
However, the Polisario Front and Algeria rejected this, demanding that independence be included as an option in the referendum.
The Polisario Front declared the resumption of armed struggle in November 2020, and sporadic armed clashes have continued in Western Sahara since then.
Morocco is expected to use the withdrawal of MINURSO as an opportunity to expand international support for its autonomy plan.
In fact, following the United States recognizing Morocco's sovereignty over Western Sahara in 2020, France also supported Morocco's autonomy plan in 2024, spreading a favorable atmosphere for Morocco in the international community.
However, the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) reported that concerns are also raised that the withdrawal of MINURSO could lead to the resumption of combat.
Issam Laroussi, a Moroccan international relations expert, told the BBC, "The withdrawal of the mission could worsen the vulnerable security environment in Western Sahara."
The aid organization Oxfam also warned that stability could be undermined and severe consequences could be inflicted on civilians as the mission's monitoring and de-escalation roles disappear.
The Polisario Front has not yet revealed its specific direction of response, but if combat resumes, there is a possibility that even Algeria could be dragged into the conflict, the BBC reported.
The Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) pointed out that Morocco and Algeria significantly increased their military spending last year, identifying the dispute between the two countries over Western Sahara as a major driver of the arms buildup.
(Photo: AP, Yonhap News)
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