The African Union Peace and Security Council on Thursday extended the mandate of the AU High-Level Implementation Panel (AUHIP) on Sudan and South Sudan led by former South African President Thabo Mbeki.

The new mandate runs through the end of 2015.

The AUHIP is tasked with helping the two governments implement the 2012 Cooperation Agreement and facilitate negotiations between the two countries “toward the goal of two viable states, at peace with one another.”