The United States’ newly declared strategic review of MINURSO, coupled with the Security Council’s Resolution 2797 renewing the mission with strengthened oversight, marks a decisive shift in the UN’s approach to the Sahara file, one that aligns increasingly with Morocco’s long‑standing call for a political solution based on autonomy under its sovereignty.
A senior UN evaluation team from the Department of Peacekeeping Operations is expected in Laayoune on Tuesday for a wide‑ranging on‑site assessment of MINURSO’s performance, Hespress reported citing UN sources.
The delegation will inspect the mission’s various bases and facilities to assess its operational relevance more than three decades after its establishment in 1991.
The visit forms part of a broader evaluative process intended to inform a comprehensive report to UN decision‑making bodies at a time when global scrutiny of long‑running peacekeeping missions is rising sharply.
This shift comes as Washington openly signals dissatisfaction with peacekeeping missions that fail to deliver political progress.
During a congressional hearing in New York on March 20, US representative to the UN Mike Waltz confirmed that the United States is conducting a strategic review of MINURSO, describing many long‑standing UN missions as “ineffective and costly.”
Waltz stressed that mandate renewals should no longer be technical formalities but must be tied to tangible political outcomes.
The United States, he said, has already begun pressuring the UN system to curb “mission creep,” reduce costs, and close or resize outdated operations.
His comments reflect the broader US posture since recognizing Morocco’s sovereignty over the Sahara in December 2020.
Washington has repeatedly expressed frustration with peacekeeping missions that, in its view, perpetuate stalemate rather than encourage political settlement. MINURSO, present for half a century without delivering its original referendum, has become a prime example.
In his annual report, the UN Secretary General has mentioned that the mission faced obstacles in its mission from Algeria and the Polisario.
Resolution 2797, adopted late last year, codifies this new direction. While extending MINURSO’s mandate to October 31, 2026, it requires the Secretary‑General to deliver a strategic review within six months, effectively before the end of April.
The resolution also reaffirms Morocco’s Autonomy Plan as the serious and credible framework for a lasting solution, reflecting a growing international consensus.
Rabat has repeatedly urged the UN to assume its responsibility by guiding all parties, especially Algeria, toward a realistic political process centered on autonomy.
