The UN Security Council s yesterday passed a resolution extending the mandate of the peacekeeping mission in the Sudan until July 9.
The 15 Council members also agreed to establish a replacement operation once the South Sudan becomes independent.The UN body asked Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon to submit a report by May 16 on the post-independence options for a UN Mission in South Sudan.
UNMIS force counts with 10,456 security personnel incluidng troops, military observers and police officers, supported by 966 international civilians and 2,837 local staff together with 475 UN volunteers.
The UN and the African Union have laso a joint peacekeeping mission in Darfur called UNAMID.