Morocco's Royal Cabinet said the UN Security Council did not extend, at its meeting on October 30, 2026, the mandate of the United Nations Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara (MINURSO), describing the development as a shift in how the file is handled at the United Nations.
In a statement, the Royal Cabinet said the non-renewal of the mandate should pave the way for ending the mission's presence in what it described as Morocco's southern provinces in the coming days, including its personnel, vehicles and equipment, saying this ends a 35-year mission.
The statement called for ending the Security Council's handling of the Sahara file, including the periodic meetings on the issue and the related reports of the UN Secretary-General, as well as briefings by the Secretary-General's personal envoy.
It also said Rabat intends to pursue its diplomatic efforts bilaterally and regionally and strengthen support for the autonomy initiative under Moroccan sovereignty, which the statement described as the only framework for resolving the dispute.
In the same context, the Royal Cabinet reaffirmed Morocco's commitment to the ceasefire and to what it described as preserving its territorial integrity and national security.
The statement comes as Morocco marks what is known as "Unity Day", instituted by King Mohammed VI, according to the text.
