United Nations Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara
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MINURSO is the United Nations peacekeeping mission in Western Sahara.
The name is a French acronym for "Mission des Nations unies pour l'Organisation d'un Référendum au Sahara Occidental" - United Nations Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara.
Purpose of the mission
MINURSO was established in 1991, as part of the Settlement Plan, which had paved way for a cease-fire in the conflict between Morocco and the Polisario Front (as the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic), over the contested territory of Western Sahara (formerly Spanish Sahara).MINURSO's mission was to monitor the cease-fire and to organize and conduct a referendum, in accordance with the Settlement Plan, which would enable the Sahrawis of Western Sahara to choose between integration with Morocco and independence. This was intended to constitute the Sahrawi people's exercise of self-determination, and thus complete Western Sahara's still-unfinished process of decolonization (Western Sahara is the last major territory remaining on the UN's list of non-decolonized territories.)
To this end, MINURSO has been given the following mandates:
- Monitor the ceasefire
- Verify the reduction of Moroccan troops in the territory
- Monitor the confinement of Moroccan and Polisario troops to designated locations
- Take steps with the parties to ensure the release of all Western Saharan political prisoners or detainees
- Oversee the exchange of prisoners of war (through the International Committee of the Red Cross)
- Implement the repatriation programme (through the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees)
- Identify and register qualified voters
- Organize and ensure a free and fair referendum and proclaim the results
Plans
The independence referendum was originally scheduled for 1992, but conflicts over voter eligibility prevented it from being held. Both sides blamed each other for stalling the process. In 1997, the Houston Agreement was supposed to restart the process, but again failed. In 2003, the Baker Plan was launched to replace the Settlement Plan, but while accepted by the Polisario and unanimously endorsed by the United Nations Security Council, it was rejected by Morocco. Presently, there is no plan for holding the referendum, and the viability of the cease-fire is coming into question.Extensions
The MINURSO mandate has been repeatedly extended since 1991. On October 28, 2005, the 15-member Security Council unanimously passed [resolution 1634] which, among other things, extended the mandate of MINURSO through April 30, 2006. To date, MINURSO has cost the United Nations almost $1.5 billion.Bases
There are two sets of teams, those in the Moroccan-controlled portion west of the berm and those in the Sahrawi-controlled region and refugee camps to the east and in Algeria. The camps west of the berm are located in Mahbas, Smara, Umm Dreiga, Auserd, and Ad-Dakhla. The eastern camps include Bir Lehlou, Tifariti, Mehaires, Mijek, and Agwanit. There is also a liaison office in Tindouf which serves as a communication channel with Polisario leadership.Current composition
As of January 31, 2006, MINURSO had a total of 225 uniformed personnel, including 28 troops and 197 military observers, supported by 123 international civilian personnel and 101 local civilian staff. Armed contingents patrol the no man's land that borders the Moroccan Wall, to safeguard the cease-fire, while civilian staff are supposed to arrange for the referendum.- Special Representative of the Secretary-General and Chief of Mission: Francesco Bastagli ()
- Force Commander: Brigadier General Kurt Mosgaard ()
- Other personnel:
| State | Military | Mil. observers | Police | Total |
| 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | |
| 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | |
| Do not [Vandalismvandalize] or you will be prevented from editing. | 0 | 8 | 0 | 8 |
| People's Republic of China | 0 | 18 | 0 | 18 |
| 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | |
| 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | |
| 0 | 13 | 4 | 17 | |
| 0 | 5 | 2 | 7 | |
| 0 | 24 | 0 | 24 | |
| 7 | 10 | 0 | 17 | |
| 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | |
| 0 | 5 | 0 | 5 | |
| 0 | 12 | 0 | 12 | |
| 0 | 7 | 0 | 7 | |
| 0 | 4 | 0 | 4 | |
| 0 | 5 | 0 | 5 | |
| 0 | 9 | 0 | 9 | |
| 0 | 14 | 0 | 14 | |
| 0 | 3 | 0 | 3 | |
| #redirect | 0 | 8 | 0 | 8 |
| 0 | 6 | 0 | 6 | |
| 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | |
| 0 | 26 | 0 | 26 | |
| 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | |
| * | 20 | 0 | 0 | 20 |
| 0 | 8 | 0 | 8 | |
| ''' Total''': | 28 | 195 | 6 | 229 |
There have been a total of 14 fatalities in MINURSO: five military personnel, a police officer, a military observer, two international civilian personnel, and five local civilian personnel.
Criticisms
In 1995, MINURSO's inability or unwillingness to act against perceived Moroccan manipulation of the process, and abuse of Sahrawi civilians, caused its former deputy chairman Frank Ruddy to deliver a strong attack on the organization[link]; he has since kept up his critique of what he argues is an economically costly and politically corrupt process[link].See also
- Foreign relations of Western Sahara
- History of Western Sahara
- Politics of Western Sahara
- Western Sahara: Anatomy of a Stalemate by Erik Jensen, former director of MINURSO (ISBN 1588263053)
- Peacemonger by Marrack Goulding, former director of UN peace-keeping missions (ISBN 0801878586)
External links
- [Official UN MINURSO page]
- [A second official page from the UN]
- [UN homepage] SC-resolution 1541 with background info
- [A collection of UN documents regarding MINURSO] ()
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