UN Security Council renews MINURSO mandate, Algerian amendments fail to pass

The United Nations Security Council has renewed the MINURSO mandate for another year, despite attempts by Algeria to amend the resolution.

The Algerian delegate interrupted the voting session on Thursday evening to make a statement requesting two amendments.

In his statement, which ultimately did not receive approval, the Algerian representative said, “The amendments pertain to human rights; the first relates to the reference in the Secretary-General’s report, particularly paragraph 72, and the second concerns the peacekeeping process, which has been fully entrusted to the monitoring and oversight of human rights.”

Russia and Mozambique abstained from voting on the UN Security Council resolution Thursday that extends the MINURSO mission mandate for an additional year, until October 31, 2025.

Twelve council members, including the United States and France, supported the new resolution, while the Algerian delegate left the voting chamber after his proposed amendments were rejected.

The U.S. representative at the Security Council expressed satisfaction with the council’s backing of UN envoy Stefan de Mistura and the MINURSO mission. He stated, “The council has shown its support for UN efforts to find an acceptable political solution.”

He also noted the council’s disappointment over the lack of consensus in renewing the MINURSO mandate and the UN envoy’s role. The U.S. representative characterized the autonomy proposal as a serious and realistic solution to the dispute, stressing the need for a political resolution that satisfies all parties.

The representative highlighted concerns among Security Council members regarding the ceasefire’s cessation, urging an end to hostilities to maintain regional security and expressing worry about the human rights situation in the Tindouf camps.

Russia also abstained from voting on Algeria’s amendments regarding the MINURSO mission. The Russian delegate indicated that this decision reflects Moscow’s firm stance against including human rights in the mission’s mandate, stating that such a move does not align with the UN mission’s objectives.