political2 Nov 2026
Refugees in Tindouf, Algeria await resolution as peacekeepers leave Western Sahara
The UN Security Council failed to renew its peacekeeping mandate for Western Sahara following a diplomatic deadlock between the US and Russia, which effectively ended the mission that had been in place since 1991. The conflict involves Morocco, which claims sovereignty over the region, and the Algeria-backed Polisario Front, which seeks an independent state for the Sahrawi people. This political impasse directly impacts the estimated 90,000 to 160,000 refugees living in camps near Tindouf, Algeria, where residents continue to face harsh living conditions and a heavy reliance on humanitarian aid. The situation has intensified tensions between Algeria and Morocco, with both nations trading accusations regarding the management of the camps and the rights of the refugees.