A snapshot of South Sudan after 9 months of civil war

The world had high hopes for South Sudan when it gained independence in 2011, even though the newest country on Earth had so little going for it.

As GlobalPost's Tristan McConnell wrote earlier this year, "huge boisterous crowds greeted independence from Sudan. The nation was born with immense international goodwill, generous foreign support and a wealth of natural resources, including oil."

But none of that could overpower the tensions accumulated over decades of fighting with the north, and it wasn't long before things fell apart. On Dec. 15 last year, lingering "political rivalry quickly devolved into armed, tribal conflict that spread across half the country," McConnell wrote.

Nine months later, hundreds of thousands have been displaced by the fighting, left homeless and dependent on foreign aid. At least 10,000 are estimated killed. The violence continues.

Here's a look at the country right now.

Have questions for Tristan? Tweet them @t_mcconnell.