Canada welcomed late Tuesday the signing of a ceasefire and framework for a final peace between Sudan and Darfur’s main rebel group.

Since the conflict broke out in February 2003, some 300,000 people have been killed and 2.7 million people displaced, according to UN figures. Sudan puts the death toll at 10,000.

“Canada welcomes the signing of the framework agreement between the government of Sudan and the Justice and Equality Movement” (JEM), said Foreign Minister Lawrence Cannon, referring to Darfur’s most heavily armed rebel group.

“This agreement, with its ceasefire, is another step toward a general political settlement for Darfur.”

Canada “calls on all parties to the conflict to continue working toward a sustainable, inclusive peace agreement,” he added in a statement.

The 12-point provisional deal offered the rebel group a power-sharing role in Sudan, where presidential and legislative polls are to be held in April.

The agreement will still need to be backed by other armed factions, entered into effect at 2100 GMT Tuesday.

A ceasefire with the JEM would close the most active front in Darfur, but smaller rebel groups, such as the faction of the Sudanese Liberation Army of France-based exile Abdelwahid Nur, have refused to enter talks with Khartoum.