On the 30th, the United Nations Security Council voted on two draft resolutions to extend the mandate of the MINURSO. Neither of the drafts, drafted by the United States and Russia, was passed. The mandate of MINURSO is scheduled to end on October 31.
Chinese Permanent Representative to the United Nations Fu Cong made an explanatory statement after the Security Council voted on the resolution authorizing the extension of the mission of the United States to West Sahara.
Fu Cong stated that China abstained from voting on this draft resolution. He noted that over the years, the United Nations Mission for Referendum in Western Sahara has earnestly carried out its mission under the authorization of the Security Council, playing a significant role in maintaining stability on the ground, preventing the situation from escalating, and protecting civilians. This has created favorable conditions for the political resolution of the Western Sahara issue. China supports the extension of the Mission's mandate by one year. Unfortunately, the draft resolution proposed by the country drafting it did not follow the framework of previous Security Council resolutions on the Western Sahara issue. It failed to adequately balance the concerns of all parties and imposed pressure on one side to accept pre-set negotiation outcomes. The country drafting the draft resolution did not give enough time for Security Council members to conduct thorough consultations. Forcing a vote under circumstances where there are still significant differences among the parties is detrimental to the unity and cooperation of the Security Council, and also hinders the political resolution of the Western Sahara issue.
Fu Cong believes that the Security Council has the primary responsibility for maintaining international peace and security. The actions of the Security Council should help enhance mutual trust among all parties, maintain the momentum of negotiations, and create favorable conditions for reaching a fair, sustainable political solution that is acceptable to all parties. The authorization extension granted to the MINURSO mission should not become a tool for exerting political pressure.
He emphasized that China's position on the Western Sahara issue is consistent and clear. We always believe that political resolution is the fundamental way to solve the issue of Western Sahara. The United Nations is the main channel, and relevant resolutions of the Security Council are an important foundation. Dialogue and negotiations are the correct approach. China supports all parties in reaching a fair, sustainable, and acceptable political solution through equal negotiations, ensuring that the people of Western Sahara can exercise self-determination under arrangements that are in line with the purposes and principles of the United Nations Charter.
Reuters reports that the voting on October 30th took place one day before the expiration of the authorization granted to MINURSO on October 31st.
On that day, Russia and the United States each voted against two opposing draft resolutions on the West Saharan issue before the Security Council.
Among them, the draft resolution prepared by the US side originally planned to extend the authorization of the mission for another year. It also aimed to establish the Moroccan autonomy plan as the “only basis for negotiation” to resolve this dispute that has persisted for half a century, and to reduce the military personnel of the mission.
Russia vetoed this U.S. draft. Subsequently, the United States also vetoed the Russian draft, which extended the authorization of the mission for one year, but did not incorporate the changes proposed by the United States.
Western Sahara was once a Spanish colony. In 1975, Spain announced its withdrawal from Western Sahara and signed partition agreements with Morocco and Mauritania. The Polisario Front, supported by Algeria, also claimed territory over Western Sahara, leading to several armed conflicts among the three parties. In 1979, Mauritania announced it would renounce its territorial sovereignty over Western Sahara, and the armed conflict between Morocco and the Polisario Front continued until 1991.
In 1991, both parties reached a ceasefire agreement. The United Nations Security Council passed a resolution in the same year, deciding to establish a Mission in Western Sahara to oversee the ceasefire and, if possible, to organize a referendum in Western Sahara.
Foreign Ministry spokesman Mao Ning once stated that regarding the Western Sahara issue, China has always believed that political resolution is the fundamental approach. The United Nations is the main channel, and relevant Security Council resolutions are an important foundation. Dialogue and negotiation are the correct methods. China hopes that all parties will engage in equal consultations to reach a fair and lasting political solution that can be accepted by all parties.
