Russia and US veto rival Western Sahara mission drafts

The United Nations Security Council failed to renew the mandate of its Western Sahara peacekeeping mission on October 30 after Russia and the United States vetoed competing proposals, leaving MINURSO due to expire the following day unless members agree to a last-minute extension. Russia vetoed a U.S.-drafted resolution that would have extended the mission for a year while making Morocco’s autonomy proposal the basis for negotiations and reducing MINURSO’s military component. The United States then vetoed Russia’s draft, which sought a straightforward one-year extension of the existing mandate. The Russian proposal received three votes in favour, one against and 11 abstentions, short of the nine affirmative votes needed for adoption. The failed votes left the Council without an agreed renewal. The U.S. draft also proposed removing the referendum reference from the mission’s name and creating a political mission, rather than continuing its existing role. Morocco’s Royal Office welcomed the nonrenewal, calling it a step toward ending the dispute’s consideration at the United Nations. It said MINURSO personnel and equipment should leave Western Sahara in the coming days and argued...