New York:During a session of the United Nations General Assembly focused on the Russian veto in the Security Council on October 30, 2026, Panama's Ambassador to the UN, Eloy Alfaro de Alba, expressed regret over the non-renewal of the mandate for the United Nations Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara (MINURSO).

According to Agence Marocaine De Presse, Ambassador de Alba highlighted Panama's support for a U.S. draft resolution that aimed to provide a viable negotiation basis for the involved parties. This resolution sought to integrate Morocco's sovereignty proposal with autonomy guarantees for the Sahara population.

The ambassador emphasized the importance of considering the self-determination principle and the legitimate aspirations of the Sahrawis by engaging with residents in the Sahara, those in the Tindouf camps, and the displaced Sahrawi diaspora. He stressed the need for an orderly withdrawal of MINURSO in line with UN procedures, urging full cooperation from all parties involved.

De Alba noted that while the conclusion of MINURSO's mandate does not address the unresolved political issues, it could signify the start of a new chapter. He reiterated Panama's alignment with the UN Secretary-General's stance on continuing dialogue through the Personal Envoy, Staffan de Mistura, and highlighted the importance of the Security Council's support in reaching a just and lasting political solution to end the prolonged conflict.