The UN Security Council on Tuesday (July 30) renewed the mandate of the joint African Union-United Nations Mission in Darfur (UNAMID) for a further 13 months, until August 31, 2014.

It also asked the UN Secretary General to prepare a review of UNAMID's mandate before February 28 next year, in light of the major changes and developments in the situation in Darfur since UNAMID was established in January 2008.

In a resolution, adopted unanimously, the Security Council called on all parties to the Darfur conflict "including in particular all the non-signatory armed groups, engage immediately and without preconditions to make every effort to reach a permanent ceasefire and a comprehensive peace settlement on the basis of the Doha Document for Peace in Darfur".

This backs the decision of the AU earlier this month which called on the international community to support the DDPD and to disregard calls by rebel groups, including the Justice and Equality Movement (JEM) and the Sudan People's Liberation Movement-North (SPLM-N) for a comprehensive process leading to regime change in the Sudan. The resolution urged the cessation of all acts of violence in Darfur and welcomed the efforts of UNAMID chief and joint mediator Mohamed Ibn Chambas, who made contact with the rebel groups last May in order to revitalize the peace process.

He is expected to meet rebel leaders next month. Addressing the UNSC meeting, the Sudanese Permanent Representative to the UN, Daffa-Alla Elhag Ali Osman, welcomed the resolution to renew UNAMID's mandate and hailed the Council's support for the DDPD.