U.S. Withdraws Confidence in UN Envoy to Western Sahara, Considers Halting MINURSO Funding

A Shift in U.S. Policy Signals Potential End to UN-Led Efforts in Western Sahara Conflict

Washington, D.C. – In a significant development regarding the Western Sahara conflict, the United States has reportedly withdrawn its confidence in the United Nations Personal Envoy to Western Sahara, Staffan de Mistura, and is contemplating cutting funding to the United Nations Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara (MINURSO). On April 10, 2025, at 11:19 AM PDT, diplomatic sources revealed that Lisa Kina, a senior U.S. State Department official, is scheduled to meet with de Mistura later today to convey the Trump administration’s stance on the issue, criticizing the UN’s inability to make progress in resolving the decades-long dispute.

A Meeting to Signal Discontent

According to informed sources, the meeting between Lisa Kina and Staffan de Mistura at the U.S. State Department will serve as a platform to express the Trump administration’s frustration with the UN’s handling of the Western Sahara conflict. Posts on X indicate that the U.S. intends to reaffirm its support for Morocco’s claim to the territory and its autonomy plan under Moroccan sovereignty, a position that aligns with the U.S. recognition of Moroccan sovereignty over Western Sahara in 2020. However, these social media claims remain unverified and should be treated as inconclusive without official confirmation.

The Western Sahara conflict, ongoing since 1975, involves Morocco, which controls approximately 80% of the territory, and the Polisario Front, an independence movement backed by Algeria, which seeks self-determination for the Sahrawi people through a referendum. MINURSO, established in 1991 under UN Security Council Resolution 690, was tasked with monitoring the ceasefire and organizing a referendum to determine the region’s status—either integration with Morocco or independence. Despite its mandate, the referendum has never taken place due to disagreements over voter eligibility and other logistical challenges.

U.S. Criticism of the UN’s Role

The Trump administration’s reported dissatisfaction with the UN’s efforts is not entirely new but marks a potential escalation in U.S. policy. Sources claim that U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio has proposed seeking a resolution outside the UN framework, citing the organization’s “legacy of failure in achieving a permanent solution” to the conflict. This sentiment echoes criticisms from various quarters, including a 2024 article by the American Enterprise Institute, which argued that MINURSO has failed to deliver on its mandate and has cost donor nations, particularly the U.S., hundreds of millions of dollars with little to show for it. The article suggested that the U.S. and its allies should deduct MINURSO’s budget from their UN contributions, a step that aligns with the current administration’s reported considerations.

An Atlantic Council piece from April 9, 2025, further highlighted the UN’s shortcomings, noting that de Mistura himself indicated his intention to step down in October 2024 due to his inability to mediate between Morocco and Algeria. The article criticized MINURSO’s $61 million annual budget—largely funded by the U.S.—as wasteful, pointing out the mission’s failure to address issues like drug and human trafficking in the region, which have flourished amid the conflict.

The Broader Context: A Stalled Peace Process

The Western Sahara conflict has been a persistent source of tension in North Africa, exacerbating relations between Morocco and Algeria, which severed diplomatic ties in 2021. MINURSO’s mandate, most recently extended until October 31, 2025, by Security Council Resolution 2756 (2024), has focused on maintaining the ceasefire and facilitating negotiations. However, the ceasefire collapsed in 2020, and subsequent efforts, including de Mistura’s proposal to partition the territory, have been rejected by both Morocco and the Polisario Front, as reported by Reuters on October 17, 2024.

The U.S. has historically supported Morocco’s autonomy plan as a “serious, credible, and realistic” solution, a stance reiterated in multiple UN Security Council statements, including one from October 2022. However, the Biden administration had also emphasized the importance of a UN-led process, a position that appears to be shifting under the current Trump administration. The U.S. recognition of Moroccan sovereignty in 2020, part of a deal that included Morocco normalizing ties with Israel under the Abraham Accords, has been a point of contention, with Algeria and the Polisario Front arguing that it undermines the Sahrawi people’s right to self-determination, a principle enshrined in UN resolutions.

Implications of a U.S. Withdrawal from MINURSO

If the U.S. follows through on its reported plan to halt MINURSO funding, the mission’s operations could be severely impacted. MINURSO, with a budget of approximately $60 million per year, relies heavily on contributions from major donors like the U.S. The mission currently employs 220 uniformed personnel, primarily from Bangladesh, Egypt, and Pakistan, who monitor the ceasefire and conduct demining operations east of the Moroccan-built separation wall, known as the Berm. A funding cut could jeopardize these activities, potentially destabilizing the region further, especially given the ongoing low-intensity hostilities noted by France in a 2024 Security Council meeting.

Moreover, withdrawing support from de Mistura and MINURSO could signal a broader U.S. pivot away from multilateral frameworks in favor of bilateral or regional solutions. Rubio’s alleged proposal to seek a resolution outside the UN aligns with Morocco’s preference for direct negotiations, as evidenced by its economic investments in the region, such as the $1.2 billion Dakhla Atlantic harbor project. However, this approach risks alienating Algeria and the Polisario Front, who continue to insist on a referendum as the only path to self-determination.

A Critical Perspective: Unanswered Questions

While the U.S. criticism of the UN’s role in Western Sahara is not without merit, the narrative of UN failure must be examined critically. The inability to hold a referendum stems from deep-seated disagreements between Morocco and the Polisario Front, compounded by geopolitical rivalries between Morocco and Algeria. The UN, despite its shortcomings, has maintained a fragile ceasefire for over three decades, a role acknowledged by several Security Council members, including France and Ecuador, in 2024 discussions. Blaming the UN alone overlooks the lack of political will from the parties involved, a point emphasized by Sierra Leone’s delegate in the same meeting.

Additionally, the U.S. push for a solution outside the UN framework raises questions about its motivations. The Trump administration’s support for Morocco aligns with strategic interests, including countering Iranian and Russian influence in the region, as noted by the Atlantic Council. However, bypassing the UN could undermine international law and the principle of self-determination, potentially setting a precedent for other territorial disputes. The absence of an official U.S. statement as of April 10, 2025, leaves room for speculation about the extent of this policy shift and its implications for Sahrawi refugees, many of whom remain in dire conditions in Algeria’s Tindouf camps, as highlighted by the U.S. in a 2023 Security Council statement.

Conclusion: A Turning Point for Western Sahara?

The reported U.S. decision to withdraw confidence in Staffan de Mistura and consider halting MINURSO funding marks a potential turning point in the Western Sahara conflict. As Lisa Kina meets with de Mistura today, the Trump administration’s message is clear: the UN’s approach has failed, and a new path is needed. Whether this path will lead to a just and lasting solution remains uncertain, particularly for the Sahrawi people, who have waited over 50 years for self-determination. The international community must now grapple with the consequences of a possible U.S. withdrawal from the UN process, balancing strategic interests with the principles of justice and human rights in a region long plagued by conflict.