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At the UN, 193 countries hear Russia explain its veto

On 10 November 2026, the General Assembly debated Russia’s veto of 30 October. The debate cancels nothing: MINURSO is still leaving. It resumes on 11 November.

  • 193states

    may speak before the General Assembly.

  • 11votes

    had backed the US text, blocked by the Russian veto.

  • 6questions

    put by Omar Hilale to Algeria.

  • 11Nov

    The debate resumes the next day, Wednesday.

Why this meeting

On 10 November 2026, the United Nations General Assembly met in New York. The subject was not a new vote on the Sahara. It was Russia’s veto, on 30 October, of the American draft.

The rule comes from resolution 76/262, adopted in 2022. When a permanent member casts a veto, the president of the Assembly calls a debate, within ten working days. All 193 states may speak. The one that cast the veto goes first.

In plain words the veto is not cancelled. The country that cast it is asked to explain it, in public.

What Russia says

Anna Evstigneeva, Russia’s deputy representative, spoke. According to the press, Moscow says it did not want to end MINURSO. It wanted a more balanced extension, drawing on resolution 2797. It judged that the American text decided too much, too fast.

The United States, for their part, defended the autonomy plan as the basis for talks.

What Morocco says

The Sahara was Moroccan before 30 October, it is even more Moroccan after 30 October, and it will remain so until the end of time.

That is the sentence of Omar Hilale, Morocco’s ambassador, as reported by the MAP agency. He then put six questions to Algeria:

  • Why refuse autonomy under Moroccan sovereignty?
  • Why not say it is a party to the dispute?
  • Why hold on to the “R” in MINURSO, the one that stands for referendum?
  • Why refuse to count the people in the Tindouf camps?
  • Why refuse lasting solutions for those camps?
  • Why refuse to widen consultations beyond a single group?

Those are Morocco’s questions. Algeria does not read them the same way.

The Gulf restates its support

Bahrain spoke for the six countries of the Gulf Cooperation Council: Saudi Arabia, the Emirates, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar and Bahrain. The group restated its support for Morocco’s sovereignty and for the autonomy plan. It also welcomed resolution 2797.

What this meeting does not change

The debate was adjourned. It resumes on 11 November. The General Assembly can neither lift the veto nor give MINURSO its mandate back. The mission’s departure continues.

Key dates

  1. Russia vetoes the US draft. MINURSO’s mandate expires on the 31st.

  2. The president of the General Assembly calls the debate on the veto.

  3. Meeting in New York. Russia explains itself. Morocco and the Gulf speak.

  4. The debate resumes. No decision has been taken yet.

Source. Hespress, 10 November 2026: https://en.hespress.com/148906-un-general-assembly-postpones-conclusion-of-sahara-veto-debate-until-wednesday.html — H24info with MAP, 10 November 2026: https://h24info.ma/maroc/hilale-onu-le-sahara-marocain-fin-des-temps/ — Morocco World News, 10 November 2026, GCC statement: https://www.moroccoworldnews.com/2026/11/345786/gulf-states-back-moroccos-autonomy-plan-at-un-debate-on-sahara-veto/

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