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{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2022}}
{{Infobox settlement
<!--See the Table at Infobox Settlement for all fields and descriptions of usage-->
<!-- Basic info ---------------->
|official_name = Wau
|other_name =
|native_name = واو
|nickname =
|settlement_type = [[List of cities in South Sudan|City]]
|motto = Arabic: {{lang-ar|واو نار<br>English: (|''Wau Naar Wau Nuur Wau Mayi Nom)''}}<br />''{{lang-en|"Wau is Fire, Wau Is Light, Wau Shall Not Sleep''"}}
<!-- images and maps ----------->
|image_skyline = Huts outside Wau,Sudan.jpg
|imagesize =
|image_caption = Huts outside Wau, 2008
|image_flag =
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|dot_map_caption =
|dot_x = |dot_y =
|pushpin_map = South Sudan<!-- the name of a location map as per http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Template:Location_map -->#Africa
|pushpin_label_position =bottom
|pushpin_map_caption =Location in South Sudan
<!-- Location ------------------>
|subdivision_type = Country
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|area_blank1_sq_mi =
<!-- Population ----------------------->
|population_as_of =2014 est.2022
|population_footnotes =
|population_note =
|population_total = 320,752<ref name="Wau">{{Cite web|url=https://www.csrf-southsudan.org/county_profile/wau/|title=Wau County, Western Bahr El Ghazal State|access-date=December 23, 2023}}</ref>
|population_total =232910
|population_density_km2 =auto
|population_density_sq_mi =
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|population_density_blank1_sq_mi =
<!-- General information --------------->
|timezone = GMT+3[[Central Africa Time|CAT]]
|utc_offset = +2
|timezone_DST =
|utc_offset_DST =
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|footnotes =
}}
'''Wau''' (Arabic: {{lang-ar|واو |''Wāw''}}; also known as '''Wow''', '''Waw''', or '''Wau Town'''){{sfnp|PSI et al.|2014|p=4}} is a town, locally referred to as a city, in northwestern [[South Sudan]], on the western bank of the [[Jur River]], that(Luo servesRiver.) It is the as capital forof [[Western Bahr el Ghazal]] (andregion formerlyin [[WauSouth State]])Sudan.<ref>[https://radiotamazuj.org/en/article/fighting-wau-red-cross-calls-civilians-be-spared Fighting in Wau; Red cross calls for civilians to be spared] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160818213100/https://radiotamazuj.org/en/article/fighting-wau-red-cross-calls-civilians-be-spared |date=2016-08-18 August 2016 }} Radio Tamazuj</ref> It lies approximately {{convert|650|km|mi}} northwest of the capital, [[Juba]].<ref>{{cite web|author=calculate travel time |url=http://www.travelmath.com/driving-distance/from/Juba,+Sudan/to/WUU |title=Estimated Road Distance Between Juba And Wau |publisher=Travelmath.com |access-date=2013-04-11 April 2013}}</ref> AIt culturally,is ethnicallya anddiverse linguistically diversesmall urban center (town) and a trading hub,. Wau The city has been a municipality since 2012 and is alsogoverned theby formera headquartersmayor ofwho [[Westernthe Bahrstate elgovernor Ghazal]]usually appoints.
The city comprises several neighborhoods including Nazareth, Hai Fahal, Sika Hadid, and Daraja.
 
== History ==
Wau was initially established by the [[France|French]] as Fort Desaix<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.smallarmssurveysudan.org/fileadmin/docs/briefing-papers/HSBA-BP-Fertit.pdf|title=IDENTITY AND SELF-DETERMINATION: The Fertit opposition in South Sudan|last=Vuylsteke|first=Sarah|date=December 2018|pages=5, 16}}</ref> and later was established as a ''[[zariba]]'' (fortified base) by [[Slavery in Sudan|slave-traders]] in the 19th century. During the time of [[Anglo-Egyptian Sudan|condominium rule]], the city became an administrative center.
 
One of the first insurgent [[Anyanya]] attacks on the [[Sudanese Armed Forces]] (SAF) took place at the Wau barracks in January 1964.
During the [[Second Sudanese Civil War]], it was a [[Garrison|garrison town]] of the [[Khartoum|Khartoum-based]] [[Sudanese Armed Forces]], and was the scene of extensive fighting in the spring of 1998. Battles erupted again in the town in the spring of 1980s, killing several hundred people. This forced the Dinka in Wau to sought safety in the eastern side of Wau. The Dinka were said to have migrated to the state today known as Warrap.▼
 
▲During the [[Second Sudanese Civil War]], itWau wasremained a SAF [[Garrison|garrison town]]. of the [[Khartoum|Khartoum-based]] [[Sudanese Armed Forces]], andIt was the scene of extensive fighting in the spring of 1998. Battles erupted again in the town in the spring of the 1980s, killing several hundred people. This forced the Dinka in Wau to soughtseek safety inon the eastern side of Wau. The Dinka were said to have migrated to the state today known as Warrap.
In 2010, the [[Ministry of Housing, Physical Planning and Environment (South Sudan)|Ministry of Housing, Physical Planning and Environment]] proposed to reshape the city as a giraffe.<ref>[https://www.thestar.com/news/world/article/849371--a-city-shaped-like-a-giraffe-southern-sudan-unveils-big-plans A city shaped like a giraffe?] Toronto Star, Wed Aug 18 2010, by Maggie Fick, Associated Pres</ref>▼
 
▲In 2010, the [[Ministry of Housing, Physical Planning and Environment (South Sudan)|Ministry of Housing, Physical Planning and Environment]] proposed to reshape the city as a giraffe.<ref>[https://www.thestar.com/news/world/article/849371--a-city-shaped-like-a-giraffe-southern-sudan-unveils-big-plans A city shaped like a giraffe?] ''Toronto Star'', Wed18 Aug 18August 2010, by Maggie Fick, Associated PresPress</ref>
 
=== South Sudanese Civil War ===
{{furtherFurther|2014 retreat from Western Bahr el Ghazal|2016–18 Wau clashes}}
[[File:Wau refugee camp 2.png|thumb|left|The refugee camp at Wau town's Catholic cathedral, where around 8,500 [[Internally displaced person|IDP]]s had found shelter during the [[2016–18 Wau clashes]].<ref name="idps church">{{cite news|url=http://www.voanews.com/a/thousands-south-sudanese-idps-shelter-wau-church/3634504.html|title=Thousands of South Sudanese IDPs Take Shelter at Wau Church|publisher=[[Voice of America]]|date=13 December 2016|access-date=24 January 2017}}</ref>]]
 
Following the outbreak of the [[South Sudanese Civil War]], the town has experienced numerous clashes, massacres, and much destruction at the hands of anti-government as well as government forces. In April 2014, [[Nuer people|Nuer]] soldiers belonging to the local [[Sudan People's Liberation Army|SPLA]] garrison mutinied after hearing of a massacre at Mapel. They clashesclashed with SPLA loyalists, and then fled into [[the Bush]]rural countryside, joining a [[2014 retreat from Western Bahr el Ghazal|long march of other deserters]] to Sudan.{{sfnp|Small Arms Survey|2014}} About 700 Nuer civilians subsequently sought protection at Wau's [[United Nations Mission in South Sudan|UNMISS base]]; most of them were family members of the deserted soldiers, while others were students.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://radiotamazuj.org/en/news/article/unmiss-denies-that-refuge-seekers-in-wau-were-turned-away |title=UNMISS denies that refuge-seekers in Wau were turned away |work=Radio Tamazuj |date=16 May 2014 |access-date=11 August 2018}}</ref>
 
In 2016, Wau experienced [[2016–18 Wau clashes#Battle in Wau town|heavy clashes]] that displaced much of its [[Dār Fertit|Fertit]] population and led to widespread destruction.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.sudantribune.com/spip.php?article59397|title=President Kiir fires Wau state governor|work=Sudan Tribune|date=24 June 2016|access-date=12 July 2016}}</ref> In April 2017, Dinka soldiers of the SPLA and [[Mathiang Anyoor]] militiamen carried out a [[2016–18 Wau clashes#Government recapture of Baggari and massacre in Wau town|massacre of non-Dinka civilians]] in the town, killing up to 50 people,<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.aljazeera.com/news/2017/04/south-sudan-civilians-killed-wau-fighting-170410182833372.html|title=South Sudan: Civilians killed in Wau fighting|work=[[Al Jazeera English|Al Jazeera]]|date=10 April 2017|access-date=19 April 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2017/04/13/south-sudans-silent-slaughter-dinka-massacre-unchecked-by-regional-international-groups.html|title=South Sudan's silent slaughter: Dinka massacre unchecked by regional, international groups |author=Malia Zimmerman |work=[[Fox News]]|date=13 April 2017|access-date=19 April 2017}}</ref> and displacing thousands.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://radiotamazuj.org/en/news/article/iom-8-000-people-displaced-by-wau-violence|title=IOM: 8,000 people displaced by Wau violence|work=Radio Tamazuj|date=13 April 2017|access-date=19 April 2017}}</ref>
 
== Population ==
The population of Wau is ethnically diverse. Most of the inhabitants are [[Luo people|Luo]] and [[Fertit people|Fertit]], as the town lies on the tribal boundary between these two peoples.<ref name="gunfight trainees">{{cite news|url=https://radiotamazuj.org/en/news/article/south-sudan-gunfights-within-bahr-el-ghazal-capital |title=South Sudan: Gunfights within Bahr el Ghazal capital |work=Radio Tamazuj |date=27 April 2014 |access-date=2 July 2018}}</ref> Furthermore, minorities belonging to the [[Dinka peoplespeople|Dinka]] of Marial Baai, peoples can be found in Wau.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://radiotamazuj.org/en/news/article/governor-strongly-denies-mapel-massacre-claims |title=Governor strongly denies Mapel massacre claims |work=Radio Tamazuj |date=28 April 2014 |access-date=25 July 2018}}</ref> Due to its diversity, Wau has repeatedly suffered from [[Ethnic violence in South Sudan|ethnic violence]].<ref name="idps church"/><ref name="april fighting">{{cite news|url=http://www.aljazeera.com/news/2017/04/south-sudan-civilians-killed-wau-fighting-170410182833372.html|title=South Sudan: Civilians killed in Wau fighting|publisher=[[Al Jazeera English|Al Jazeera]]|date=10 April 2017|access-date=19 April 2017}}</ref><ref name="uniforms massacre">{{cite news|url=http://www.voanews.com/a/gunmen-government-uniforms-massacre-wau-town/3804541.html|title=Gunmen in Government Uniforms Go on Massacre in Wau Town |author1=Michael Atit |author2=John Tanza |work=[[Voice of America]]|date=10 April 2017|access-date=22 May 2017}}</ref>
 
=== Demographics ===
In 2008, Wau was the third-largest city in South Sudan, by population, behind the national capital [[Juba, South Sudan|Juba]] and [[Malakal]], in [[Upper Nile (state)|Upper Nile State]]. At that time, the estimated population of the city of Wau was about 128,100.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.world-gazetteer.com/wg.php?x=&lng=de&des=wg&geo=-188&srt=pnan&col=adhoq&msz=1500&men=gcis&lng=en |title=Estimated Population of Sudanese Cities & Towns In 2010 |publisher=World-gazetteer.com |access-date=2013-04-11 |url-status=April 2013 }}{{dead link|archive-urldate=https://web.archive.org/web/20120523183238/http://www.world-gazetteer.com/wg.php?x=&lng=de&des=wg&geo=-188&srt=pnan&col=adhoq&msz=1500&men=gcis&lng=enJuly 2021|archive-datebot=2012-05-23 medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref> In 2011, the city's population was estimated at about 151,320.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.wolframalpha.com/input/?i=Wau+sudan |title=Estimated Population of Waw In 2011 |publisher=Wolframalpha.com |access-date=2013-04-11 April 2013}}</ref>
{| class="wikitable" '''Wau Trends'''
|-
! style="background:#efefef;" | Year
! style="background:#efefef;" |Population<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.world-gazetteer.com/wg.php?x=&lng=de&des=wg&geo=-188&srt=pnan&col=adhoq&msz=1500&men=gcis&lng=en |title=Estimated Population of Wau (1973 - 2010) |publisher=World-gazetteer.com |access-date=2013-04-11 |url-status=April 2013 }}{{dead link|archive-urldate=https://web.archive.org/web/20120523183238/http://www.world-gazetteer.com/wg.php?x=&lng=de&des=wg&geo=-188&srt=pnan&col=adhoq&msz=1500&men=gcis&lng=enJuly 2021|archive-datebot=2012-05-23 medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref>
|-
| 1973
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| style="text-align:right;"| 84,000
|-
| 2010
| style="text-align:right;"| 128,100
|-
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== Economy ==
[[File:Cattle market Wau.jpg|thumb|right|Wau cattle market, 2008]]
Wau is a vibrant economic center by the standards of the newly established [[South Sudan|Republic of South Sudan]], and serves as a hub for trade between [[Darfur]], [[Bahr el Ghazal (region of South Sudan)|Bahr al Ghazal]], and [[Equatoria]].<ref name="gunfight trainees"/> The major contributors to the local economy include:
* [[Buffalo Commercial Bank]] branch
* [[Equity Bank (South Sudan)]]<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://allafrica.com/stories/201101170986.html|title=East Africa: Equity Bank Plans Further Expansion in Southern Sudan|last=Riungu|first=Catherine|date=2011-01-17 January 2011|work=The East African (Nairobi)|access-date=6 July 2017-07-06}}</ref> branch
* [[Ivory Bank]] branch
* [[Kenya Commercial Bank (South Sudan)]] branch<ref>[http://www.kcbbankgroup.com/fo/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=297&Itemid= KCB Expands Branch Network In South Sudan] {{dead link|date=May 2016|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref>
* [[Catholic University of South Sudan]], Wau campus
* [[University of Bahr El-Ghazal]]
* [[Wau Airport]]
* [[Wau County Government]]
* [[Western Bahr el Ghazal|Wau state Government]]
* [[RCS - Radio & Satellite Communication]]
* Commercial Bank of Ethiopia (South Sudan Subsidiary Comp.) expected shortly
 
=== Transport and infrastructure ===
[[File:St Mary Cathedral, Wau.jpg|alt=St Mary Cathedral in Wau|thumb|St Mary Cathedral in Wau]]
* [[Wau Railway Station]] - is the terminus of a [[narrow gauge]] branch line of the [[Sudan Railways]]. A plan exists, as of 2008, to open a [[standard gauge]] line north from [[Gulu]] in [[Uganda]] to Wau. Through trainsTrains from [[Khartoum]] to [[Mombasa]] would be possible only if one of the lines was regauged. Its functionality would depend on post-conflict reconstruction.▼
 
▲* [[Wau Railway Station]] - is the terminus of a [[narrow gauge]] branch line of the [[Sudan Railways]]. A plan exists, as of 2008, to open a [[standard gauge]] line north from [[Gulu]] in [[Uganda]] to Wau. Through trains from [[Khartoum]] to [[Mombasa]] would be possible only if one of the lines was regauged. Its functionality would depend on post-conflict reconstruction.
* [[Wau Airport]] - The airport, {{airport codes|WUU|HSWW}} has a single paved runway which measures {{convert|2500|m|ft}} in length.
* The city hosts [[University of Bahr El-Ghazal]] and many secondary and primary schools.
* The [[Catholic University of South Sudan]] maintains a campus in the city.<ref>{{cite web|last=Sean |first=Michael |url=http://ncronline.org/news/global/catholic-university-launches-sudan |title=Catholic University Maintains A Campus In Wau |publisher=Ncronline.org |date=2010-11-11 November 2010 |access-date=11 April 2013-04-11}}</ref>
* Wau Stadium - A soccer stadium in the middle of town
* The [http://p117165.mittwaldserver.info/parishes/st-mary-help-of-christians/ '''Cathedral of St. Mary'''] in Wau was built between 1951 and 1956.
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== Geography and climate ==
Like other parts of South Sudan and the [[East Sudanian savanna]], Wau has a [[tropical savanna climate]] ([[Köppen climate classification|Köppen]] ''Aw''), with a wet season and a dry season and the temperature being hot year-round. The average annual mean temperature is {{convert|27.8|C|F|abbr=on}}, the average annual high temperature is {{convert|34.7|C|F|abbr=on}}, while the average annual low temperature is {{convert|20.9|C|F|abbr=on}}. The hottest time of year is from March to May, just before the wet season starts. March is the hottest month, having the highest average high at {{convert|38.1|C|F|abbr=on}} and the highest mean at {{convert|30.4|C|F|abbr=on}}. April has the highest average low at {{convert|23.8|C|F|abbr=on}}. August and July have the lowest average high at {{convert|31.4|C|F|abbr=on}}, with August having the lowest mean at {{convert|26.2|C|F|abbr=on}}. December has the lowest average low at {{convert|17.9|C|F|abbr=on}}.
Wau has a [[tropical savanna climate]] ([[Köppen climate classification]] ''Aw''). The city has two seasons: a dry season from November to March, and a rainy season the rest of the year, as depicted in the referenced box below:
 
Wau receives {{convert|1074.5|mm}} of rain over 102.4 precipitation days, with a distinct wet and dry season like most tropical savanna climates. Almost no rain falls from November to March. August, the wettest month, receives {{convert|192.3|mm}} of rainfall on average. September has 23.7 precipitation days, which is the most of any month. Humidity is much higher in the wet season than in the dry season, with February having a humidity of just 26% and August having a humidity of 77%. Wau receives 2777 hours of sunshine annually on average, with the sunshine being distributed fairly evenly across the year, although it is lower during the wet season. December receives the most sunshine, while July receives the least.
 
{{Weather box
|location = Wau, South Sudan
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|precipitation colour = green
|Jan precipitation mm = 1.3
|Feb precipitation mm = 3.6
|Mar precipitation mm = 18.6
|Apr precipitation mm = 68.3
|May precipitation mm = 118.8
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| title = Wau Climate Normals 1961–1990
| publisher = [[National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration]]
| access-date = January 16, January 2015}}</ref>
|date=January 2015}}
 
== Notable locals ==
Some of the notable people from Wau include
* [[Alek Wek]], -South Sudanese-EnglishBritish model and designer▼
* Captain Bulus Abushaka - Famous Sudanese soccer goal keeper
* Captain SamuelBulus IllarioAbushaka - ElFamous MarikhSudanese startsoccer goalkeeper
* Captain Samuel Illario - El Marikh start
* [[Thon Maker]] – NBA basketball player▼
* Clement Mboro - a veteran politician
* Cardinal [[Gabriel Zubeir Wako]] - Retired archbishop of Khartoum archdiocese (Sudan, then including South Sudan)
* Prof Barri Arkanjelo Wanji - veteran Anya Anya /SPLM/A soldier and long -serving politician
* Dan Samuel - National Basketball player and veteran construction manager
▲* [[Alek Wek]] - Sudanese-English model
* [[Joseph Ukel Abango|Joseph Ukel]] - veteran politician
▲* [[Thon Maker]] –- Former NBA basketball player
* [[Mari Malek]] - model, DJ and activist
* [[Luol Deng]] - Former NBA basketball player
 
== See also ==
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|url=http://www.smallarmssurveysudan.org/fileadmin/docs/archive/south-sudan/conflict-crisis-2013-15/bahr-el-ghazal/The-Conflict-in-Northern-and-Western-Bahr-el-Ghazal-States-Oct-2014.pdf
|ref = {{harvid|Small Arms Survey|2014}}}}
<ref>* {{cite web|last=Essays |first=UK |url=https://www.ukessays.com/services/samples/1st-education-essay.php?vref=1 |title=Sample Undergraduate 1st Education Essay |publisher=UKEssays.com |date=November 2018 |access-date=22 November 2020 |location=Nottingham, UK}}</ref>
 
== Sources and external links ==
{{wikivoyage|Wau (South Sudan)|Wau}}▼
{{Commons category|Wau}}
▲{{wikivoyageWikivoyage|Wau (South Sudan)|Wau}}
* [https://maps.google.com/maps?q=7.7000,+28.0000&hl=en&ll=7.734466,27.991447&spn=0.130637,0.374222&sll=7.737528,28.055992&sspn=0.130636,0.374222&z=12 Location of Wau At Google Maps]
* [http://www.gcatholic.org/churches/africa/3234.htm GCatholic, with Google satellite photo/map - Wau's Roman Catholic cathedral of Mary]
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{{State capitals in South Sudan}}
{{Authority control}}
 
[[Category:Populated places in Western Bahr el Ghazal]]
[[Category:Wau County]]
[[Category:State capitals in South Sudan]]
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