United Nations, October 3, 2026 – The Europe Today: The United Nations Security Council is scheduled to hold closed meetings on the Western Sahara issue on October 7 and 8, ahead of the expiration of the mandate of the United Nations Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara (MINURSO) on October 31.
The October 7 meeting will bring together the Council and countries contributing troops to MINURSO, while consultations involving all Security Council members are scheduled for October 8.
MINURSO Special Representative and Head of Mission Alexander Ivanko is expected to participate in the meetings. Council members are also expected to receive briefings from Ivanko and UN Secretary-General’s Personal Envoy for Western Sahara Staffan de Mistura on the Secretary-General’s annual report on the situation.
The Council is expected to consider a resolution on extending MINURSO’s mandate later in October. The current mandate was extended for one year under Security Council Resolution 2797, adopted on October 31, 2025, and is due to expire on October 31, 2026.
The 2025 resolution expressed the Council’s support for the UN Secretary-General and his Personal Envoy in facilitating negotiations aimed at reaching a just, lasting and mutually acceptable political solution to the Western Sahara dispute, taking Morocco’s autonomy proposal as a basis for negotiations.
Morocco submitted its autonomy proposal to the United Nations in 2007. The proposal envisages autonomy for Western Sahara while Morocco would retain responsibility for areas including defense and foreign affairs. The Polisario Front has continued to advocate independence and has called for a referendum in which independence would be an option.
The upcoming Security Council discussions come as UN-led diplomatic efforts continue. The Council’s October programme includes consideration of the Secretary-General’s latest report and the future mandate and role of MINURSO.
MINURSO was established in 1991 following an agreement between Morocco and the Frente POLISARIO. Although the originally envisaged referendum has not taken place, the mission continues to monitor the ceasefire situation, report on military developments and activities by the parties, support de-escalation efforts and assist the UN political process.
The October meetings and subsequent mandate vote are expected to form an important part of the UN’s consideration of the Western Sahara issue and the future role of MINURSO.
