ISLAMABAD: United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres has reaffirmed that the people of Western Sahara retain their inalienable right to self-determination as the United Nations Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara (MINURSO) ceases its operations following the non-renewal of its mandate by the Security Council.
In a statement issued by his Spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric, the Secretary-General said MINURSO had been established, in particular, to enable the people of Western Sahara to realise their inalienable right to self-determination.
“The departure of MINURSO does not abrogate these inalienable rights,” the statement said, adding that all parties were called upon to respect and promote the rights of the people of Western Sahara.
The Secretary-General acknowledged the central role played by MINURSO since its establishment in 1991 in monitoring the ceasefire and helping create conditions conducive to the pursuit of a political solution.
He expressed deep gratitude to the personnel of MINURSO, including the Special Representative for Western Sahara, Alexander Ivanko, whose leadership, according to the statement, guided the Mission during a particularly challenging period after the resumption of hostilities in 2020.
The Secretary-General also paid tribute to the 20 MINURSO personnel who lost their lives during the 35 years of the Mission’s deployment in Western Sahara.
According to the statement, November 1, 2026 marks the beginning of the liquidation period. During this phase, a smaller team reporting to the United Nations’ Department of Operational Support will oversee the orderly transportation of assets belonging to troop-contributing countries to their respective nations, as well as the appropriate disposal of United Nations equipment.
The Secretary-General called for the full cooperation of the parties to ensure that the process is completed in an orderly manner as soon as possible.
He also voiced concern over the security situation across the Territory and the risk of escalation of hostilities. He urged all concerned to exercise maximum restraint and refrain from actions that could further heighten tensions or undermine regional stability.
The Secretary-General reaffirmed the United Nations’ commitment to supporting the parties in reaching a just, lasting and mutually acceptable political solution that provides for the self-determination of the people of Western Sahara.
While MINURSO’s peacekeeping operations have concluded, the statement said the United Nations remained ready to continue supporting efforts to advance dialogue and pursue a peaceful resolution of the conflict through the Personal Envoy of the Secretary-General, Staffan de Mistura.
