UN Security Council Resolution 690

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Country/entity: Morocco
Western Sahara
Region: Middle East and North Africa
Agreement name: UN Security Council Resolution 690
Date: 29 Apr 1991
Agreement status: Unilateral document
Interim arrangement: Yes
Agreement/conflict level: Interstate/intrastate conflict(s)
Western Sahara Conflict (1973 - 1991)
Conflict in Western Sahara began as an insurgency by the Polisario Front against Spanish colonization in 1973. Two years later, Spain withdrew from the territory. Following the annexation of the territory by Morocco and Mauritania in 1976, the insurgency continued. After proclaiming the establishment of the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic (SADR) in 1976, the Polisario Front succeeded in gaining recognition by several states, but was not admitted into the United Nations. Instead, the territory was annexed by Morocco and Mauritania, sparking a 16-year resistance by the Algerian-backed Polisario Front. Following a withdrawal by Mauritania in 1979, the conflict reached a stalemate through the 1980s and then reignited in 1989 until a ceasefire in 1991. At the time 80 per cent of the territory was under the de facto control of Morocco, while 20 per cent continued to be held by the SADR including the refugee camps along the Algerian border. Unrest has continued to erupt at intervals in from 1999-2004, 2005, 2010 and 2011. Attempts to solve the conflict have manifested in the form of the Baker Plan (2000) and the Moroccan Initiative (2006-2008).
Stage: Implementation/renegotiation
Conflict nature: Government/territory
Peace process: Morocco-Western Sahara peace process
Parties: United Nations Security Council
Third parties: -
Description: UNSC endorsing 'Settlement Plan' proposed by UN and OAU and agreed between Morocco and Frente Polisario in 1988 providing for referendum on self-determination. UN and OAU to supervise the referendum, and a UN Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara.

Agreement document: MO_910429 UNSC Resolution 690 (1991).pdf (opens in new tab) | Download PDF

Groups

Children/youth: No specific mention.
Disabled persons: No specific mention.
Elderly/age: No specific mention.
Migrant workers: No specific mention.
Racial/ethnic/national group: No specific mention.
Religious groups: No specific mention.
Indigenous people: No specific mention.
Other groups: No specific mention.
Refugees/displaced persons: No specific mention.
Social class: No specific mention.

Gender

Women, girls and gender: No specific mention.
Men and boys: No specific mention.
LGBTI: No specific mention.
Family: No specific mention.

State definition

Nature of state (general): No specific mention.
State configuration: No specific mention.
Self determination: Page 1,
The Security Council,
Recalling its resolution 621 (1988) of 20 September 1988, by which it, inter alia, requested the Secretary-General to transmit to it a report on the holding of a referendum for self-determination of the people of Western Sahara and on ways and means to ensure the organization and supervision of such a referendum by the United Nations in cooperation with the Organization of African Unity,

Page 1,
2. Expresses its full support for the efforts of the Secretary-General for the organization and the supervision, by the United Nations in cooperation with the Organization of African Unity, of a referendum for self-determination of the people of Western Sahara, in accordance with the objectives mentioned in his report;
Referendum: Page 1,
The Security Council,
Recalling its resolution 621 (1988) of 20 September 1988, by which it, inter alia, requested the Secretary-General to transmit to it a report on the holding of a referendum for self-determination of the people of Western Sahara and on ways and means to ensure the organization and supervision of such a referendum by the United Nations in cooperation with the Organization of African Unity,

Page 1,
The Security Council,
... Recalling further its resolution 658 ( 1990) of 27 June 1990, by which it approved the report of the Secretary-General of 18 June 1990,142 which contains the full text of the settlement proposals as accepted by the two parties on 30 August 1988, as well as an outline of the plan provided by the Secretary General in order to implement those proposals, and by which it requested the Secretary-General to transmit to it a further detailed report on his implementation plan, containing in particular an estimate of the cost of the United Nations Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara,

Page 1,
2. Expresses its full support for the efforts of the Secretary-General for the organization and the supervision, by the United Nations in cooperation with the Organization of African Unity, of a referendum for self-determination of the people of Western Sahara, in accordance with the objectives mentioned in his report;

Page 1,
4. Decides to establish, under its authority, a United Nations Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara in accordance with the report of 19 April 1991;
State symbols: No specific mention.
Independence/secession: No specific mention.
Accession/unification: No specific mention.
Border delimitation: No specific mention.
Cross-border provision: No specific mention.

Governance

Political institutions (new or reformed): No specific mention.
Elections: No specific mention.
Electoral commission: No specific mention.
Political parties reform: No specific mention.
Civil society: No specific mention.
Traditional/religious leaders: No specific mention.
Public administration: No specific mention.
Constitution: No specific mention.

Power sharing

Political power sharing: No specific mention.
Territorial power sharing: No specific mention.
Economic power sharing: No specific mention.
Military power sharing: No specific mention.

Human rights and equality

Human rights/RoL general: No specific mention.
Bill of rights/similar: No specific mention.
Treaty incorporation: No specific mention.
Civil and political rights: No specific mention.
Socio-economic rights: No specific mention.

Rights related issues

Citizenship: No specific mention.
Democracy: No specific mention.
Detention procedures: No specific mention.
Media and communication: No specific mention.
Mobility/access: No specific mention.
Protection measures: No specific mention.
Other: No specific mention.

Rights institutions

NHRI: No specific mention.
Regional or international human rights institutions: No specific mention.

Justice sector reform

Criminal justice and emergency law: No specific mention.
State of emergency provisions: No specific mention.
Judiciary and courts: No specific mention.
Prisons and detention: No specific mention.
Traditional Laws: No specific mention.

Socio-economic reconstruction

Development or socio-economic reconstruction: No specific mention.
National economic plan: No specific mention.
Natural resources: No specific mention.
International funds: No specific mention.
Business: No specific mention.
Taxation: No specific mention.
Banks: No specific mention.

Land, property and environment

Land reform/rights: No specific mention.
Pastoralist/nomadism rights: No specific mention.
Cultural heritage: No specific mention.
Environment: No specific mention.
Water or riparian rights or access: No specific mention.

Security sector

Security Guarantees: No specific mention.
Ceasefire: No specific mention.
Police: No specific mention.
Armed forces: No specific mention.
DDR: No specific mention.
Intelligence services: No specific mention.
Parastatal/rebel and opposition group forces: No specific mention.
Withdrawal of foreign forces: No specific mention.
Corruption: No specific mention.
Crime/organised crime: No specific mention.
Drugs: No specific mention.
Terrorism: No specific mention.

Transitional justice

Transitional justice general: No specific mention.
Amnesty/pardon: No specific mention.
Courts: No specific mention.
Mechanism: No specific mention.
Prisoner release: No specific mention.
Vetting: No specific mention.
Victims: No specific mention.
Missing persons: No specific mention.
Reparations: No specific mention.
Reconciliation: No specific mention.

Implementation

UN signatory: UN Security Council Resolution.
Other international signatory: No specific mention.
Referendum for agreement: No specific mention.
International mission/force/similar: Page 1,
The Security Council,
Recalling its resolution 621 (1988) of 20 September 1988, by which it, inter alia, requested the Secretary-General to transmit to it a report on the holding of a referendum for self-determination of the people of Western Sahara and on ways and means to ensure the organization and supervision of such a referendum by the United Nations in cooperation with the Organization of African Unity,

Page 1,
The Security Council,
... Recalling further its resolution 658 ( 1990) of 27 June 1990, by which it approved the report of the Secretary-General of 18 June 1990,142 which contains the full text of the settlement proposals as accepted by the two parties on 30 August 1988, as well as an outline of the plan provided by the Secretary General in order to implement those proposals, and by which it requested the Secretary-General to transmit to it a further detailed report on his implementation plan, containing in particular an estimate of the cost of the United Nations Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara,

Page 1,
2. Expresses its full support for the efforts of the Secretary-General for the organization and the supervision, by the United Nations in cooperation with the Organization of African Unity, of a referendum for self-determination of the people of Western Sahara, in accordance with the objectives mentioned in his report;

Page 1,
4. Decides to establish, under its authority, a United Nations Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara in accordance with the report of 19 April 1991;

Page 1,
6. Request the Secretary-General to keep the Security Council regularly informed of the implementation of his settlement plan.
Enforcement mechanism: 2. UN and OAU to supervise the referendum, and 4. a UN Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara.

UN endorsing 'Settlement Plan' proposed by UN and OAU and agreed between Morocco and Frente Polisario in 1988 providing for referendum on self-determination. 2. UN and OAU to supervise the referendum, and 4. a UN Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara.

Page 1,
2. Expresses its full support for the efforts of the Secretary-General for the organization and the supervision, by the United Nations in cooperation with the Organization of African Unity, of a referendum for self-determination of the people of Western Sahara, in accordance with the objectives mentioned in his report;

Page 1,
4. Decides to establish, under its authority, a United Nations Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara in accordance with the report of 19 April 1991;
Related cases: No specific mention.
Source: UNSC website

THE SITUATION CONCERNING WF.STERN SAHARA

Decision

At its 2984th meeting, on 29 April 1991, the Council discussed the item entitled "'The situation concerning Western Sahara:

report by the Secretary-General (S/22464 and Corr.1)".

Resolution 690 (1991)

of 29 April 1991

The Security Council,

Recalling its resolution 621 (1988) of 20 September 1988, by which it, inter alia, requested the Secretary-General to transmit to it a report on the holding of a referendum for self-determination of the people of Western Sahara and on ways and means to ensure the organization and supervision of such a referendum by the United Nations in cooperation with the Organization of African Unity,

Recalling also that, on 30 August 1988, the Kingdom of Morocco and the Frente Popular para la Liberación de Sagufa el-Hamra y de Rio de Oro gave their agreement in principle to the proposals of the Secretary-General of the United Nations and the current Chairman of the Assembly of Heads of State and Government of the Organization of African Unity in the framework of their joint mission of good offices,

Recalling further its resolution 658 ( 1990) of 27 June 1990, by which it approved the report of the Secretary-General of 18 June 1990,142 which contains the full text of the settlement proposals as accepted by the two parties on 30 August 1988, as well as an outline of the plan provided by the Secretary General in order to implement those proposals, and by which it requested the Secretary-General to transmit to it a further detailed report on his implementation plan, containing in particular an estimate of the cost of the United Nations Mission for the Referendum in Westem Sahara,

Desirous of reaching a just and lasting solution of the question of Western Sahara,

Having examined the report of the Secretary-General of 19 April 1991 on the situation concerning Western Sahara,

1. Approves the report of the Secretary-General, transmitted to the Council, in accordance with resolution 658 (1990).

2. Expresses its full support for the efforts of the Secretary-General for the organization and the supervision, by the United Nations in cooperation with the Organization of African Unity, of a referendum for self-determination of the people of Western Sahara, in accordance with the objectives mentioned in his report;

3. Calls upon the two parties to cooperate fully with the Secretary-General in the implementation of his plan as described in his report of 18 June 1990142 and amplified in his report of 19 April 1991;

4. Decides to establish, under its authority, a United Nations Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara in accordance with the report of 19 April 1991;

5. Also decides that the transitional period will begin no later than sixteen weeks after the General Assembly approves the budget for the Mission;

6. Request the Secretary-General to keep the Security Council regularly informed of the implementation of his settlement plan.

Adopted unanimously at the 2984th meeting.