Western Sahara and the UN Security Council: A Crisis of International Law

On October 30, the UN Security Council faced a significant impasse regarding Western Sahara, characterized by a direct confrontation between US and Russian positions. This event highlighted a systemic crisis regarding the credibility of international governance. Despite the US-led draft receiving eleven votes, several delegations—including Denmark and Latvia—clarified that their stance did not imply recognition of Moroccan sovereignty or acceptance of unilateral solutions, reaffirming the Sahrawi people's right to self-determination. The Polisario Front criticized the current drafting process for abandoning institutional neutrality and promoting a narrative that favors the occupying power while ignoring proposals from Russia, China, and others aimed at a purely technical extension of the MINURSO mandate. This situation illustrates a growing disregard for legal safeguards within the Council. The Polisario Front maintains that any attempt to bypass legitimate rights or impose a political capitulation is unacceptable. Given the breach of the ceasefire in November 2020 by Morocco, the Front emphasized that it will continue its political and legal struggle to defend the rights of the Sahrawi people against these geopolitical maneuvers.