Geneva-focused UN News
Collated by Peter Hulm
WHO approves trials for two new Ebola vaccines (LINK) 2 November 2026
UN warns of security risks in Western Sahara as peacekeeping mission ends after 35 years (LINK) 1 November 2026
— The UN Security Council (UNSC) failed to renew its mandate on Friday. At the UNSC on Friday, the US proposed a resolution to support the principle of self-determination in the Western Sahara. Washington's draft would have extended the mission for a year, removed "referendum" from its name and made Morocco's autonomy proposal the only basis for further talks. Russia vetoed the resolution, despite support from 11 of the 15 UNSC members, including fellow permanent members France and the United Kingdom. The council then defeated a competing Russian resolution, leaving the mission to expire without a new mandate. Morocco's royal palace said the fact the mission was not renewed was a "significant development" in withdrawing the Western Sahara issue from the UNSC's consideration. On Saturday, Algeria's Foreign Ministry, however, expressed "deep regret" over the non-renewal, blaming the "excessive bias" of the US towards Morocco's position. The Polisario Front said in a statement that it was "concerned at the deadlock in the Security Council meeting".
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