JUBA, South Sudan (AP) — Confronting global fears of genocide, South Sudan’s president tentatively agreed Friday to revitalize peace talks that have been stalled for months, taking what the U.S. described as a necessary step toward creating a new government and halting rampant bloodshed in the world’s newest nation.

But it was not immediately clear whether President Salva Kiir’s main rival would participate in the talks, despite being urged by U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry.