OMM Newsroom
The UN Security Council on Friday renewed the mandate of its support mission in Libya for another year, then rejected a US-drafted resolution on Western Sahara after Russia vetoed it, Anadolu Agency reported.
The Libya resolution, put forward by the United Kingdom, passed with 13 votes in favour and none against. Russia and Greece abstained.
It extends the mandate of the UN Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) and supports efforts to move the country towards elections, reunify state institutions and establish a unified executive authority.
The United States welcomed the vote, saying Libya faces a “historic opportunity” and stressing the need for a single government and unified security institutions. Washington also warned that those who deliberately obstruct the country’s political transition could face consequences.
Russia said UNSMIL still has an important role to play, but cautioned against rushing the political process or imposing solutions from abroad. Russian Ambassador Vasily Nebenzya said agreements reached through the recent political process still need wider support among Libyan stakeholders.
Russia vetoes US-drafted Western Sahara resolution
The Council then considered a US-drafted resolution on Western Sahara. It received 11 votes in favour, three abstentions and one vote against, with Russia casting its veto.
The resolution aimed to reshape the UN’s approach to the long-running dispute and advance a political settlement. US Ambassador Mike Waltz said repeated efforts to hold a referendum had failed for decades and that maintaining the status quo was no longer acceptable.
Waltz said Washington supports self-determination but believes there are other ways to achieve it, and urged the parties to pursue a lasting political agreement.
Western Sahara remains a key issue in North African diplomacy. Morocco has proposed broad autonomy for the territory under its sovereignty, while the Polisario Front continues to seek a referendum on self-determination, a position supported by Algeria.
The dispute dates back to 1975, when Spain ended its colonial rule of the territory. It escalated into armed conflict between Morocco and the Polisario Front until a ceasefire in 1991.
