Russia and the United States vetoed each other’s proposals to extend the UN peacekeeping mission in Western Sahara, according to the account. The US proposal called for a one-year extension, fewer UN personnel and Morocco’s autonomy plan to serve as the sole basis for negotiations. Russia’s alternative would also have extended the mission for a year but without those changes, and was then vetoed by the United States.

The mandate of the UN mission, MINURSO, officially expired on October 31. If the Security Council does not approve an extension, the mission’s presence in the area will end. Morocco’s royal palace welcomed the failure to extend the mandate and said that all troops and equipment should leave within the following days. Polisario Front representative Sidi Omar welcomed Russia’s veto of the US proposal, while Oxfam warned that losing MINURSO’s monitoring and de-escalation role could harm security and stability.