On October 31, 2024, the UN Security Council adopted Resolution 2756, extending the mandate of the United Nations Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara (MINURSO) until October 2025.
The renewal sparked a polarized response, highlighting the deep divisions among member states on Western Sahara’s contested political status and the rights of the Sahrawi people. Algeria, Mozambique, and Russia pushed to balance the resolution, aiming to address longstanding human rights issues and international law violations in the region. Their proposals sought to empower MINURSO with a human rights monitoring role, urging that the mission be equipped to investigate and track human rights abuses, with annual updates provided to the Security Council.
Algeria specifically proposed language noting the Council’s “deep concern” that the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) has been denied access to Western Sahara for nine years. This suggestion aimed to ensure accountability, reflecting growing frustration over human rights abuses against Sahrawis, including surveillance, discrimination, and restrictions on their freedom of movement. The efforts of Algeria and Russia to secure these provisions emphasized their view that MINURSO’s original mandate—to facilitate a referendum on self-determination—remains the most legitimate path to peace. However, these recommendations were ultimately excluded from the final resolution.
In contrast, the United States and France advocated for a “technical rollover” that avoided substantial changes to MINURSO’s current mandate. These nations, historically supportive of Morocco’s autonomy proposal, refrained from endorsing any provisions that would extend MINURSO’s role into human rights monitoring, maintaining what the Polisario Front calls a “clear bias” toward Morocco. France, particularly vocal in its opposition to human rights oversight in Western Sahara, argued that such measures could disrupt diplomatic ties and destabilize ongoing negotiations. This stance aligns with France’s consistent support for Moroccan interests, reinforced by the U.S. policy shift in 2020 that recognized Moroccan sovereignty over Western Sahara.
The Polisario Front expressed profound disappointment with the resolution’s lack of progress, characterizing it as another instance of the Security Council failing to hold Morocco accountable for what they regard as breaches of the 1991 ceasefire. In a press release, the Polisario reaffirmed its commitment to “intensify the legitimate struggle for independence,” accusing the Council of tacitly endorsing Morocco’s actions through its inaction on human rights violations and settlement expansions in Western Sahara. They emphasized that any genuine resolution should recognize the Sahrawis’ right to self-determination, as enshrined in the UN-OAU Settlement Plan. The Sahrawi people’s resolve for independence and sovereignty remains unshaken, with the Polisario vowing to resist until these goals are achieved.
The resolution was adopted with 12 votes in favour, none against and 2 abstentions (Mozambique and Russian Federation).
This recent resolution highlights the geopolitical complexities and competing interests that continue to hinder a comprehensive and just solution in Western Sahara. While the Council has renewed MINURSO’s mission, the differing perspectives within it underscore the challenges of achieving a unified approach to peace and human rights in this protracted conflict.
