Morocco announces end of UN Sahara mission after 35 years

The Royal Cabinet has announced that the United Nations Security Council ended the MINURSO mission without renewing its mandate following a meeting held this Friday, October 30, 2026. According to the statement, this decision represents a crucial step toward permanently closing the Sahara file within the United Nations, bringing an end to the mission’s 35-year deployment in the Kingdom’s southern provinces.

The communiqué specifies that the Security Council’s decision entails the immediate departure of mission personnel, as well as the withdrawal of its vehicles and equipment in the very near future. The Royal Cabinet emphasized that this major turning point coincides with the celebration of the “Festival of Unity,” opening a new era in the handling of the Moroccan Sahara issue. Meanwhile, Rabat reaffirmed its commitment to the ceasefire and the continuation of its diplomatic efforts to consolidate the autonomy initiative under Moroccan sovereignty.

The full text of the Royal Cabinet communiqué follows:

«The mandate of MINURSO was not renewed by the United Nations Security Council during its meeting held today, October 30, 2026.

This constitutes an important development and a significant step toward the definitive closure of the Moroccan Sahara dossier at the United Nations.

This major development coincides with the celebration of Unity Day, decreed by His Majesty King Mohammed VI, May God Assist Him, to embody a break in the management of this dossier, shifting from a simple logic of management to an approach of profound transformation of its parameters.

Thus, the non-renewal of MINURSO’s mandate clearly means that the presence of this Mission in the southern provinces of the Kingdom, notably through its personnel, its vehicles, its equipment, and its symbols, should cease in the coming days.

A 35-year page is now turned. Inherited from an anachronistic and bygone context, this Mission long constituted an instrument for the internationalization of the regional dispute regarding the legitimate recovery by the Kingdom of Morocco of its Saharan provinces.

Furthermore, the non-renewal of MINURSO should mark the end of the Security Council’s referral and the removal of this question from its agenda. Consequently, the periodic statutory meetings of the Council devoted to the Moroccan Sahara, the related reports of the United Nations Secretary-General, and the briefings of his Personal Envoy, would no longer have any purpose.

The UN political process, which was unfortunately marked by procrastination from the other parties, their stubbornness in creating blockage, and in perpetuating the status quo, is thus suspended. Similar actions will also be undertaken shortly within other UN bodies.

While expressing its satisfaction with this development, Morocco remains firmly committed to the ceasefire, in strict respect of its territorial integrity, its national security, and the peace of mind of its citizens.

Moreover, the international momentum launched by His Majesty King Mohammed VI, May God Preserve Him, will continue at the bilateral and regional levels. It has already made it possible to capitalize on significant support, as more than two-thirds of UN member states, including permanent members of the Security Council and influential powers, clearly support autonomy, under Moroccan sovereignty, as the sole framework for resolving this regional dispute ».

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