AssetID: 56126186
Headline: UNCAPTIONED: UN Peacekeeping Mission in Western Sahara Ends After 35 Years
Caption: UN Peacekeeping Mission in Western Sahara Ends After 35 Years. The United Nations' 35-year peacekeeping mission in Western Sahara officially ended on Sunday after the Security Council failed to agree on extending its mandate. The Security Council deadlock followed Russia's veto of a US-backed resolution supporting Morocco's autonomy proposal, while a Russian resolution to extend the mission was also rejected. The mission was established in 1991 to monitor a ceasefire between Morocco and the pro-independence Polisario Front and organise a referendum on the territory's future, which has never taken place. A smaller UN team will now oversee the withdrawal of military personnel and equipment, marking the beginning of the mission's liquidation process. Morocco welcomed the decision, while the Polisario Front condemned the outcome and Algeria expressed deep regret over what it called Washington's excessive bias towards Rabat. Western Sahara has been at the centre of a dispute since Spain withdrew in 1975, with Morocco controlling most of the territory and the Polisario seeking independence. Although the ceasefire held for nearly three decades, the Polisario withdrew from the agreement in 2020 and hostilities have continued, raising concerns about ending the UN presence. UN Secretary-General António Guterres warned of the risks and urged all parties to exercise restraint, as the mission's closure could also deepen tensions between Morocco and Algeria. Instructions: THIS VIDEO MUST NOT BE EDITED FOR LENGTH TO COMBINE WITH OTHER CONTENT
Keywords: Current Affairs & Politics,Western Sahara,Morocco,Algeria,António Guterres,United Nations,peacekeeping,mission,occupation,Spain,colony,Polisario,ceasefire,broken,hostilities,autonomy,tensions,politics,allies,regional,Africa,minerals
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