By : Lloyd Mahachi
The United Nations Security Council voted to extend the mandate of its peacekeeping force in Western Sahara for another year on Thursday. The decision was made despite Algeria’s refusal to participate in the vote, citing the resolution’s failure to include a reference to monitoring human rights in the disputed North African territory.
Twelve countries supported the resolution, while Russia and Mozambique abstained. Algeria, which backs the Polisario Front, one of the parties to the nearly 50-year dispute, refused to vote. The Polisario Front has been fighting for independence since Morocco annexed Western Sahara, a former Spanish colony, in 1975.
The region is believed to have considerable offshore oil deposits and mineral resources, making it a valuable prize. It is slightly larger than the United Kingdom. The UN brokered a 1991 cease-fire and established a peacekeeping mission to monitor the truce and help prepare a referendum on the territory’s future.
However, disagreements over who is eligible to vote have prevented the referendum from taking place. Morocco now insists it will only support autonomy for Western Sahara, rather than full independence. The Polisario Front renewed armed conflict in 2020, ending a 29-year truce, and tensions have escalated since then.
The UN peacekeeping mission has been in place for over three decades, but the situation remains unresolved. The extension of the mandate ensures the continued presence of UN peacekeepers in the region, but the lack of progress towards a lasting solution has raised concerns.
Algeria’s refusal to vote highlights the deep divisions surrounding the issue. The country’s support for the Polisario Front has been a key factor in the conflict, and its absence from the vote underscores the challenges facing the international community in finding a peaceful resolution.
As the situation in Western Sahara continues to simmer, the international community remains committed to finding a lasting solution. The UN Security Council’s decision to extend the peacekeeping mandate demonstrates this commitment, but more needs to be done to address the underlying issues driving the conflict.
Editor : Josephine Mahachi