The United Nations Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara (MINURSO) was established in 1991 to support the settlement proposals and ceasefire reached by Morocco and Frente POLISARIO. Today, it contributes to peace and stability in Western Sahara by monitoring, investigating and reporting on the ongoing situation, and working with the parties to reduce tensions as they arise.
Today, following the resumption of hostilities in November 2020, MINURSO has continued to advocate for their cessation, while also focusing on mine action operations to help protect the local population from explosives left behind by the war, and on observing the security situation across its area of operations. The Mission also provides logistical support to the Office of the Special Envoy of the Secretary-General to Western Sahara, who leads the political process between the parties under the auspices of the United Nations.
Throughout its existence, MINURSO has contributed in a significant way to reducing tensions between the parties and to the de-escalation of conflict activities. Despite the breakdown of the ceasefire in 2020, MINURSO’s deployment has continued to be welcomed by both parties and it has contributed to the low-intensity hostilities in the Territory, not ceasing its efforts to call for a cessation of hostilities.
Map & Office Locations
Since the establishment of the Mission, MINURSO headquarters has been located in Laayoune, the main city in Western Sahara. In the Laayoune HQ are located the main offices, including the Office of the Special Representative of the Secretary-General, the military component headquarters, and a medical clinic. The Mission maintains two other compounds in Laayoune, one housing primarily administration support personnel and the other serving as a logistics base.
The Mission has a liaison office in Tindouf, Algeria. The Office liaises with Frente POLISARIO, whose headquarters are located in Rabouni, near Tindouf, and with the Government of Algeria. It also serves as a security coordinator for UN agencies assisting refugees located in the camps near Tindouf, namely UNHCR, WFP, UNICEF and WHO.
The heart of the Mission are its nine team sites, staffed by United Nations Military Observers. Of the nine team sites, 4 are located west of the berm, the sandwall dividing the two parties, (Smara, Mahbas, Oum Dreyga and Awsard) and 5 are located east of the berm (Bir Lahlou, Tifairi, Mehaires, Mijek and Agwanit).
