( 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 . It gained independence from Sudan on July 9 , 2011 , making it the world 's newest nation after decades of ethnic and political conflict between the Sudanese government in Khartoum and opposition elements in the South . Two years later , South Sudan remains one of Africa 's most impoverished countries despite containing the majority of known Sudanese oil reserves . 2 ) Who is fighting whom ? The South Sudanese government and military , dominated by the Dinka ethnic group of President Salva Kiir , is fighting rebels allied with former Vice President Riek Machar of the Nuer ethnic group . At stake for now is control of oil-rich regions responsible for more than 95 % of the country 's economy , and perhaps leadership of the country . Mass killings and other violence in the past two weeks have caused tens of thousands of people to seek shelter under protection from U.N. forces in Juba , the capital , and some other cities . More U.N. peacekeepers from Africa and perhaps elsewhere may be coming soon , and 150 U.S. Marines are on standby in Djibouti to assist if needed in evacuating American government and aid workers from the country . 3 ) Is this something new ? Yes and no . While the sudden escalation of the conflict in recent days caught many by surprise , the causes were familiar . South Sudan 's independence two years ago followed decades of rebellion by various ethnic and political groups against the Khartoum government in Sudan . Kiir and Machar were longtime rivals who had an uneasy relationship atop the government , with Machar making clear his presidential ambitions . The valued oil resources and history of ethnic divisions amounted to a recipe for political mayhem , noted Jon Temin , an Africa specialist at the United States Institute of Peace . `` It did n't start about oil , '' Temin told CNN on Tuesday , adding that the political rivalry at the top was `` no secret to anybody . '' 4 ) What triggered the recent violence ? Kiir fired his Cabinet , including Machar , in July in a shuffle considered `` not uncommon '' for such a fledgling African nation , Temin said . While the move caused concern , a relatively calm aftermath bolstered hopes of continued stability . However , that unraveled in mid-December with gunfire between security forces loyal to Kiir and Machar . It remains unclear who fired the first shot , according to Temin . Kiir accused forces backing Machar of launching a coup attempt , and retribution attacks erupted with top allies of Machar detained . Machar has denied any coup attempt occurred . `` It has been surprising in how quickly it spread , '' Temin said . 5 ) Where do things stand ? The situation is both dire and uncertain . Consider this grim report Tuesday from Ravina Shamdasani of the U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees , who said an official saw more than 30 bodies in two mass graves and that the global body was trying to verify the existence of others . `` It is very difficult , and there are reports that some bodies may have already been burned , '' Shamdasani added . The United Nations said fighting had spread to five of South Sudan 's 10 states , and that it had credible reports civilians were being attacked and killed based on their ethnicity . Meanwhile , U.N. officials struggled to make accommodations for some 45,000 people crowding its compounds seeking shelter from the violence . Nearly as many people were seeking shelter elsewhere . The U.N. Security Council voted unanimously on Tuesday to increase the 6,800-strong U.N. force in South Sudan by another 5,500 troops to try to ensure the safety of the displaced , a role that peacekeepers failed to fulfill in the Rwanda genocide of 1994 that killed 800,000 people . `` Even with additional capabilities , we will not be able to protect every civilian in need in South Sudan , '' U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki-moon warned after the vote , adding that `` there is no military solution to this conflict . '' On Monday , Ban said in a message to the people of South Sudan that `` the U.N. stood with you on your road to independence , '' and that `` we will stay with you now . '' 6 ) Where does the United States stand ? The United States was one of the strongest supporters of South Sudan 's independence for a few reasons . A democratic South Sudan could be a regional hedge against the Khartoum regime , which the United States lists as a sponsor of terrorism , and President Omar al-Bashir , who has been indicted on charges of war crimes , crimes against humanity and genocide . In addition , the possibility exists of future U.S. involvement in South Sudan 's oil industry . U.S. oil companies have no role now in South Sudan due to sanctions against Sudan , which still plays a major role in overall oil production . Secretary of State John Kerry has urged Kiir and Machar to enter peace talks , but there was no clear signal that the fighting would ease . Kerry also dispatched his special envoy to Sudan and South Sudan , Donald Booth , to the country . In a statement Monday , the U.S. military 's Africa Command said it was positioning 150 Marines in Djibouti in East Africa to be able to respond should conditions in South Sudan deteriorate even more . CNN Pentagon Correspondent Barbara Starr reported Tuesday that 50 of the Marines then proceeded to Entebbe , Uganda , to be even closer to South Sudan if needed . The decision grew out of last year 's experience in Benghazi , Libya , when no U.S. forces were close enough to respond quickly to the attack that killed U.S . Ambassador Christopher Stevens and three other Americans . According to a senior administration official , 380 Americans and about another 300 third-country nationals have been evacuated . `` Based on registration , there are American citizens in other towns and areas throughout South Sudan , '' the official said . `` We are trying to track down how many may still be there . '' CNN 's Mike Pearson , Khushbu Shah , Jennifer Rizzo , Marie-Louise Gumuchian , Barbara Starr and Antonia Mortensen and journalist Mading Ngor in Juba , South Sudan , contributed to this report .
The world 's newest country descends into violence and chaos . The State scrambles to ease the carnage and protect civilians . 50 Americans are positioned in The United States to help evacuate Marines . The United States urges opposing leaders to talk instead of fight .