Its initial 12-month mandate was extended to 31 July 2010.[3] As of 2008, its budget was approximately US $106 million per month.[4] Its force of about 26,000 personnel began to deploy to the region in October 2007. The 9,000-strong African Union Mission in Sudan (AMIS), which was previously responsible for peacekeeping, had completely merged into this new force by 31 December 2007.[5]