The head of the United Nations Mission for the Referendum in the Sahara (MINURSO), Alexander Ivanko, has dismissed four heads of divisions and departments as part of an internal restructuring effort within the mission, according to Hespress AR UN sources.
The sources say the move is part of a broader UN plan to streamline operations and reduce costs amid ongoing financial strain within the mission. MINURSO has reportedly faced budget pressures in recent years, particularly following the Trump administration’s decision to cut U.S. contributions to UN peacekeeping missions.
The restructuring comes in the wake of UN Security Council Resolution 2797 on the Sahara, which renewed the mission’s mandate while reflecting shifts in the UN’s approach to the conflict. Sources said the decision aligns with a new phase focused on reprioritizing the mission’s objectives and scaling back field and logistical operations.
MINURSO had already reduced its operational capacity by retiring one of its two field transport aircraft earlier this year.
Analysts view the dismissals as more than routine administrative changes.
They suggest the move reflects the mission’s gradual downsizing and the diminishing scope of its role, as international consensus continues to coalesce around Morocco’s autonomy plan as a “serious, credible, and realistic” solution to the long-standing regional dispute.
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