Western Sahara: UN extends MINURSO mandate until 2026

The mandate for the United Nations Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara (MINURSO) has been extended until October 31, 2026, following the adoption of Security Council Resolution 2797. The resolution includes a provision for a strategic review of the mission's future, making upcoming diplomatic discussions in New York critical for the region's political direction.

While the resolution does not legally recognize Moroccan sovereignty over the territory, it reaffirms the pursuit of a just, lasting, and mutually acceptable political solution based on compromise and the principle of self-determination. The UN continues to support consultations involving Morocco, the Polisario Front, Algeria, and Mauritania.

In a related development regarding the Sahrawi cause, activist Naâma Asfari ended a 47-day hunger strike in a Moroccan prison. Asfari, who was among those arrested in 2010 during the dismantling of the Gdeim Izki camp, secured an agreement for transfer to a prison closer to her family after facing life sentences. Supporters have characterized the outcome as a victory for Sahrawi rights and continued mobilization.