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Peacekeeping in Western Sahara: MINURSO (UN Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara) Fact sheet released by the Bureau of International Organization Affairs U.S. Department of State, August 23, 2000

Key Dates

• Started: April 29, 1991
• Current Mandate Expiration: October 31, 2001

Staffing

	Authorized	Actual (as of 07/01/00)
		Total	U.S.
Troops	27	27	0
Observers	203	204	16
Police	81	80	0

Financing (Regular peacekeeping assessments)

	Total UN Cost	U.S. assessment (at 25%)
FY 1999	$35 million	$9 million
FY 2000	$44 million	$11 million
FY 2001 estimate	$52 million	$13 million

Mandate

MINURSO has two major mandated tasks: monitoring the cease-fire and maintaining a political dialogue with the parties. The latter includes carrying out a Settlement Plan agreed to by the parties, which calls for the registration of the Sahrawi population of the Western Sahara and the holding of a referendum on the status of the territory.

U.S. Interests

U.S. interests include supporting the peaceful resolution of a conflict which is of vital importance to our key regional partner Morocco; preventing a return to war between Morocco and the POLISARIO that could destabilize the region and involve Algeria or other outside nations; and encouraging a political solution that serves the interests of all the parties and offers a chance for longer-term stability.

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