(CNN) -- Two weeks ago, South Sudan was best known as the youngest African country, created with much international fanfare in 2011. Today, it is possibly the next Rwanda. A flash-fire conflict threatening to escalate into full-blown civil war combines trademark elements of African tragedy -- resource wealth coveted by global powers, in this case oil, and longstanding political and ethnic divisions. Here's a quick primer to get you up to speed on the escalating situation: 1) First things first. Tell me about South Sudan. South Sudan is a landlocked country of more than 11 million people in central Africa, bordering Sudan, Ethiopia, Kenya, Uganda, Democratic Republic of Congo and the Central African Republic.
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The world's newest country descends into violence and chaos
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The United Nations scrambles to ease the carnage and protect civilians
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150 Marines are positioned in Djibouti to help evacuate Americans
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The United States urges opposing leaders to talk instead of fight
Two years later, South Sudan remains one of @placeholder's most impoverished countries despite containing the majority of known Sudanese oil reserves.