Western Sahara: UN legal framework remains binding despite MINURSO's end

The rejection of UN Security Council resolutions on October 30, 2026, and the subsequent end of MINURSO’s operational mandate have created a new legal context, but not an end to the UN’s involvement. Resolution 2797 (2025) remains legally valid, upholding the Sahrawi people's right to self-determination and the status of the Polisario Front in the political process. While the Moroccan government claims the UN dossier should be closed, it lacks the unilateral authority to terminate Security Council engagement. The legal foundation for decolonization, dating back to 1963, remains unchanged, supported by the 1975 International Court of Justice opinion. UN Secretary-General António Guterres affirmed on November 1, 2026, that the cessation of the MINURSO mission does not abrogate the Sahrawi people's rights, and Envoy Staffan de Mistura is still required to uphold strict neutrality.