Minurso Became a ‘Permanent Monument to Something that Could Not Work’ – U.S. Ambassador to the UN

United Nations (New York) – U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Mike Waltz stated on Friday before the Security Council that Minurso, whose mandate was not renewed, “unfortunately became a permanent monument to something that could not work.”

“We have been clear that renewing, year after year for decade after decade, mandates that haven’t worked or cannot work, and in this [Minurso’s] case was not something we can support,” the U.S. ambassador stated in his explanation of vote on the non-renewal of Minurso’s mandate.

Noting that for 35 years, Minurso “has not delivered its original purpose,” Waltz asserted: “We cannot perpetuate a mission whose very name does not reflect the reality on the ground and choose a status quo.”

He added that, according to the staff of this UN mission themselves, “Minurso spends roughly 80% of its time simply resupplying itself.”

In this regard, the U.S. ambassador recalled that back in 2002, former UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan himself presented the Council that Minurso’s mandate be terminated.

“That was 24 years ago, and we’re still having this conversation,” he regretted before the Council members, adding that in the meantime, thousands of people remain stranded in the Tindouf camps, where “two-thirds of children under five suffer from anemia, according to UN findings.”

“It’s heartbreaking. One-third [of the children] suffer from stunted growth. Ten percent receive the minimum acceptable diet. An entire generation has grown up in these camps,” the U.S. ambassador said indignantly.

“We should not continue a status quo that results in an additional generation [living in these conditions],” Waltz insisted.

Consequently, the ambassador called for “continued diplomatic efforts,” noting that President Donald Trump had “brought the parties back to the [negotiating] table, alongside the United Nations and the Secretary-General’s Personal Envoy.”

“That work should not stop (…) We have to try something new,” the U.S. ambassador concluded.