US may alter UN mission in Western Sahara
Concerns rise that a redefinition of MINURSO's role could undermine its original mandate for a self-determination referendum.
The United States, as the penholder for UN Security Council texts on Western Sahara, is reportedly considering a new approach that could alter the mission of the United Nations Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara (MINURSO). This potential shift raises concerns that the mission's original mandate, which is to organize a referendum on self-determination for the Sahrawi people, could be undermined.
Reports indicate a possible reduction in the functions of some MINURSO offices and a reorganization of priorities. This development is seen as potentially preparing the ground for the referendum to become a pending right, indefinitely postponed, or to be replaced by political solution proposals not accepted by the Sahrawi people.
The primary danger lies not just in changing UN resolutions but in transforming gradual changes into an imposed political reality. The legitimacy of any solution depends on respecting the rights and will of the affected people, not on the backing of powerful international states, according to the report.
Why it mattersThe Sahrawi people's right to self-determination and the future of their national cause are at risk due to potential changes in the UN mission's role.