UN SECURITY COUNCIL EXTENDS PEACEKEEPING MANDATE

The UN Security Council has extended the mandate of the peacekeeping force in South Sudan for one year, amid ongoing rebel violence in parts of Africa’s youngest nation.

It was reported that Russia and China abstained from the vote.

The United States Ambassador to the UN, Linda Thomas -Greenfield  said the renewed mandate would help fortify efforts to prevent sexual and gender-based violence and enable the peace mission to provide electoral assistance in South Sudan.

The UN retained the 19,000-strong contingent comprising of 17,000 soldiers and 2,101 police officers.