UN begins withdrawing peacekeepers from Western Sahara
The UN mission in Western Sahara is closing its 13 sites after its mandate was not extended by the Security Council.
The United Nations has begun withdrawing its peacekeepers from Western Sahara. The UN mission, known as Minurso, started closing its 13 sites on Sunday because its mandate was not extended by the Security Council. This decision followed a diplomatic dispute between the United States and Morocco, and Russia and the Polisario.
Minurso was recognized as a stabilizing force in the region before its liquidation began. The withdrawal commenced on Monday, according to UN confirmation. The mission's closure is a direct result of the Security Council's failure to renew its mandate.
The diplomatic clash involved key international players, highlighting the complex political situation in Western Sahara. The closure of the 13 sites marks the end of the UN's peacekeeping presence under the current mandate.
Why it mattersThe UN mission in Western Sahara is being liquidated, affecting the region's stability and the people involved in the diplomatic dispute.