Sudan and two rebel groups have agreed the ground rules for a peace deal at talks in Nigeria which should allow the safe return of refugees to Darfur.
The Declaration of Principles signed in Abuja came after four weeks of hard negotiations and also deals with security arrangements for the region.
The Justice and Equality Movement and Sudan Liberation Army both signed.
At least 180,000 people have died since 2003 in largely ethnic violence in Darfur and more than 2m are homeless.
A United Nations report has stopped short of saying that the Sudanese government and its militia allies have carried out a genocide against non-Arab groups in Darfur but it does say war crimes have been committed.
Broad commitments
The talks in the Nigerian capital are being sponsored by the African Union (AU) and have now completed their fifth round.
AU chief mediator Salim Salim said Tuesday's declaration would send a message for ending the conflict and the realisation of peace and stability in Darfur.
"You have demonstrated your own determination that you will not let down the people of Darfur... and you will not let down our friends in the international community," he told the signatories.
Among the broad commitments agreed are the upholding of democracy, the independence of the judiciary and "justice and equality for all, regardless of ethnicity, religion and gender".