The United Nations Security Council unanimously voted to extend the mandate of a joint UN-African Union peacekeeping force in Sudan's Darfur for another year.

The Council however expressed hope that the new civilian-led transitional government can restore peace in the region with a long-term focus on the troops' exit.

A UK and German-drafted resolution tasked the UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres to provide a report to the Council by January 31 assessing the situation on the ground and the state of the peace process.

UK's deputy ambassador Jonathan Allen told the Council after the vote that the resolution responds to a request from the new transitional government "to avoid any security vacuum in Darfur."

Plans to withdraw the peacekeeping troops from Darfur were put on hold in June upon recommendations from the UN and AU.

Darfur has been dogged by conflict since 2003, with various armed groups operating in the region. Former president Omarl al-Bashir is accused of perpetrating war crimes in the region, allegations he denies.

In response to the extension of the peacekeeping mandate, Germany's UN Ambassador Christoph Heusgen said the resolution sends "a very strong message of support" to Sudan's Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok and to Sudanese efforts to foster peace.

Michael Barkin, the U.S. Mission's senior policy adviser, said "the United States fully expects this to be UNAMID's final extension, barring extraordinary circumstances."