JUBA, March 19 (Xinhua) -- South Sudan on Monday slammed the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) decision to extend the UN Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) mandate for another one year, terming it a clear hunt for regime change.

Information Minister Michael Makuei said the decision had been reached without consultations with Juba.

Makuei also accused the United States for being behind the decision, especially after Washington's ambassador to the UN Nikki Haley last year described Juba as an unfit partner in the pursuit for peace.

"So all these resolutions and the draft prepared by the penholder is just in pursuance to UN plans for regime change," said Makuei.

The minister said Juba is not against the stay of UN mission, but that President Salva Kiir's leadership should be made a party to whatever decisions being taken in that respect.

The minister said prior to the UN Security Council decision to renew UNMISS mandate, Juba had sent its position but was completely ignored.

The UNSC last Thursday renewed UNMISS mandate until March 15, 2019 with the passing of Resolution 2406.

Resolution 2406 requires UNMISS to continue its work to protect civilians, both those internally displaced being sheltered within protection sites next to UN bases and other civilians through the deployment of its peacekeeping troops across South Sudan.

The new mandate authorizes UNMISS to support the implementation of the 2015 peace agreement and current peace processes, including through the High Level Revitalization Forum.