Sahara: Will MINURSO be axed by Trump Administration?

The Trump administration and the United Nations can save a lot of money by eliminating failed peacekeeping missions such as the MINURSO, said Michael Rubin, a senior fellow at the American Enterprise Institute.

In an Op-Ed published by the Washington-based think-tank, Mr. Rubin said the U.S. recognizes the Moroccanness of the Sahara and subsidizing that organization represents a betrayal of the Abraham Accords.

The Sahrawis themselves also wish to join Morocco. This is why the Algerian-backed Marxist Polisario Front does not allow these Sahrawis held in Tindouf camps (southern Algeria) to travel to Morocco with their families, said the American researcher.

The Algeria-backed Polisario militias hold wives and children as hostages to prevent their resettlement. By funding these camps and inflating Polisario legitimacy, the U.N. perpetuates the problem, said Mr. Rubin.

Some peacekeeping operations work as they provided space for governments to solidify and turn the page on conflict and civil war. Other missions, however, are not only expensive failures but may actually preserve conflict, said the AEI analyst, citing in this regards the MINURSO which was established in 1991.

After 34 years and billions of dollars spent, no progress has been made and the UN-led political process is stalled due to Algeria and Polisario disengagement and procrastination.

According to the American expert, it is time to end peacekeeping missions that, at best, do nothing and, at worst, preserve conflict. Trump and Congress should insist they will no longer tolerate failed peacekeeping operations.