UN Security Council sets October talks on the Sahara ahead of MINURSO vote

The UN Security Council will return to Sahara this month as it prepares to decide whether to renew the mandate of MINURSO, the UN mission whose current authorization expires on Oct. 31. Greece holds the Council presidency for October.

A provisional program circulated under the Greek presidency schedules closed discussions on the file for Oct. 7 and 8, including briefings on the mission and the political process.

The timetable remains subject to change during the month.

Alexander Ivanko, the UN secretary-general’s special representative and head of MINURSO, is expected to brief Council members on the mission and conditions on the ground, while Staffan de Mistura, the secretary-general’s personal envoy for the Sahara, is expected to update members on his latest contacts and efforts to restart negotiations.

Security Council Report independently lists both officials as the anticipated briefers this month.The consultations will feed into negotiations over a new resolution before MINURSO’s mandate expires at the end of October.

The Council last renewed the mission in Resolution 2797, adopted on Oct. 31, 2025. The text extended MINURSO for one year and backed negotiations taking Morocco’s autonomy proposal as a basis, while calling for a mutually acceptable political solution providing for self-determination. It also described genuine autonomy as potentially the most feasible outcome.

The post UN Security Council sets October talks on the Sahara ahead of MINURSO vote appeared first on HESPRESS English - Morocco News.