MINURSO Mandate: Washington Consults Experts Ahead of Crucial UN Security Council Vote

Yesterday 14:45

With the United Nations Mission for the Referendum in the Moroccan Sahara (MINURSO) approaching a key deadline, the United States is gathering expert assessments to help shape its position ahead of the Security Council’s upcoming decision on the mission’s future.

According to Africa Intelligence, the US State Department held a closed-door meeting on October 9 with around ten researchers and academic specialists to examine possible scenarios for MINURSO. The consultations took place less than three weeks before the mission’s mandate is due to expire on October 31, 2026.

The meeting reflects Washington’s efforts to assess the diplomatic and operational implications of the next resolution before negotiations intensify among Security Council members in New York.

Four scenarios under consideration

The discussions reportedly examined four possible directions for MINURSO: renewing its mandate for another year, extending it for a shorter period, revising its responsibilities or ending the mission altogether.

No final decision has been announced, and the consultations should not be interpreted as confirmation that Washington has selected any of these options.

Participants reportedly included specialists associated with the International Crisis Group, the Washington Institute for Near East Policy and Colgate University. The American side included Massad Boulos, senior adviser to President Donald Trump on African affairs, and Mike Waltz, the US permanent representative to the United Nations, according to the published account.

By seeking input from outside institutions, US officials appear to be examining the available policy choices before engaging in the final round of negotiations over the mission’s mandate and responsibilities.

Resolution 2797 sets the framework

The forthcoming decision follows Security Council Resolution 2797, adopted on October 31, 2025. The resolution extended MINURSO’s mandate until October 31, 2026, and requested a strategic review of the mission’s future mandate, taking into account the outcome of negotiations between the parties.

The same resolution expressed the Council’s support for negotiations based on Morocco’s Autonomy Proposal, with the stated objective of reaching a just, lasting and mutually acceptable political settlement. It also encouraged the parties to engage in discussions without preconditions.

That framework places the strategic review at the centre of the debate over MINURSO’s next phase. Council members must consider not only whether to maintain the mission but also how its future mandate should relate to the UN-led political process.

The future role of MINURSO under scrutiny

A potential revision of MINURSO’s responsibilities would raise questions about the mission’s operational priorities and its contribution to diplomatic efforts. A shorter extension, meanwhile, could provide additional time for negotiations or for the completion of the strategic review.

Ending the mission would represent a more far-reaching option, although the reported consultations do not establish that such a course has been adopted by the US administration.

The decision ultimately rests with the Security Council, whose members will have to negotiate the terms of any new resolution before the current mandate expires.

Morocco’s autonomy proposal remains central to diplomacy

Morocco’s Autonomy Proposal has gained a prominent place in the Security Council’s diplomatic framework following Resolution 2797. The United States is among the countries supporting the proposal, which Rabat presents as a basis for resolving the dispute over the Moroccan Sahara.

International positions nevertheless remain divided over the final status of the territory. The UN framework continues to call for a political solution that is just, lasting and mutually acceptable to the parties.

As the October 31 deadline approaches, Washington’s consultations signal that the next decision on MINURSO will involve both the technical future of the UN mission and broader questions surrounding the direction of the political process.

For now, the central uncertainty remains whether the Security Council will preserve the existing mandate, adjust the mission’s responsibilities or pursue another course. The outcome will depend on negotiations among Council members and the progress of the UN-led diplomatic process.