CASABLANCA, Morocco: The UN’s long-running peacekeeping mission for the disputed Western Sahara ceased operations Sunday after 35 years, as a result of a US-Russia standoff at UN headquarters over the territory’s future. The end of the mission raises concerns about stability in the region. Rich in minerals and fisheries, Western Sahara is a vast desert territory roughly the size of Colorado along Africa’s northwestern Atlantic coast. Once ruled by Spain, it is claimed by both Morocco and the pro
