Russia blocked the US-backed proposal on 30 October, and a competing Russian proposal to extend the existing mission for another year also failed. Neither text was adopted. Britain’s UN representative confirmed that MINURSO’s mandate was consequently on course to expire on 31 October and urged renewed negotiations.
The US proposal would have reinforced Morocco’s autonomy plan under Moroccan sovereignty as the basis for negotiations and changed the mission’s role. The Russian text sought a straightforward extension of the existing mandate. The Russian proposal received three votes in favour, one against and eleven abstentions—short of the nine affirmative votes required for adoption.
Morocco’s royal palace welcomed the failure to renew the mission and said its personnel and equipment should leave in the coming days. Morocco nevertheless said it remained committed to the ceasefire. Polisario’s UN representative welcomed Russia’s rejection of the American proposal, arguing that it would undermine the peace process.
MINURSO monitors and investigates the low-intensity conflict and maintains contact with both sides to reduce tensions. Its future therefore concerns more than the stalled referendum: losing that presence would weaken an established channel for observing military developments and containing escalation. The UN’s existing authorisation runs through 31 October; a further Council decision would be needed to extend it.