Wau, South Sudan
Wau
واو | |
|---|---|
 Huts outside Wau, 2008 | |
| Motto(s): | |
  Wau  Wau | |
| Coordinates:07°42′00″N28°00′00″E/ 7.70000°N 28.00000°E | |
| Country |  South Sudan |
| Region | Bahr el Ghazal |
| State | Western Bahr el Ghazal |
| County | Wau County |
| Elevation | 433 m (1,420 ft) |
| Population (2022) | |
| • Total | 320,752[1] |
| Time zone | UTC+2(CAT) |
Wau(Arabic:واو,romanized:Wāw;also known asWow,Waw,orWau Town)[2]is a city in northwesternSouth Sudan,on the western bank of theJur River,that serves as capital forWestern Bahr el Ghazal(and formerlyWau State).[3]It lies approximately 650 kilometres (400 mi) northwest of the capitalJuba.[4]A culturally, ethnically and linguistically diverse urban center and trading hub, Wau is also the former headquarters ofWestern Bahr el Ghazal.The city is a municipality since 2012 and is being govern by a mayor who is usually appointed by the governor of the state.
History
[edit]Wau was initially established by theFrenchas Fort Desaix[5]and later was established as azariba(fortified base) byslave-tradersin the 19th century. During the time ofcondominium rule,the city became an administrative center.
One of the first insurgentAnyanyaattacks on theSudanese Armed Forces(SAF) took place on the Wau barracks in January 1964.
During theSecond Sudanese Civil War,Wau remained a SAFgarrison town.It 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 seek safety in the eastern side of Wau. The Dinka were said to have migrated to the state today known as Warrap.
In 2010, theMinistry of Housing, Physical Planning and Environmentproposed to reshape the city as a giraffe.[6]
South Sudanese Civil War
[edit]
Following the outbreak of theSouth 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,Nuersoldiers belonging to the localSPLAgarrison mutinied after hearing of a massacre at Mapel. They clashed with SPLA loyalists, and then fled into the rural countryside, joining along march of other desertersto Sudan.[8]About 700 Nuer civilians subsequently sought protection at Wau'sUNMISS base;most of them were family members of the deserted soldiers, while others were students.[9]
In 2016, Wau experiencedheavy clashesthat displaced much of itsFertitpopulation and led to widespread destruction.[10]In April 2017, Dinka soldiers of the SPLA andMathiang Anyoormilitiamen carried out amassacre of non-Dinka civiliansin the town, killing up to 50 people,[11][12]and displacing thousands.[13]
Population
[edit]The population of Wau is ethnically diverse. Most of the inhabitants areLuoandFertit,as the town lies on the tribal boundary between these two peoples.[14]Furthermore, minorities belonging to theDinkaof Marial Baai, peoples can be found in Wau.[15]Due to its diversity, Wau has repeatedly suffered fromethnic violence.[7][16][17]
Demographics
[edit]In 2008, Wau was the third-largest city in South Sudan, by population, behind national capitalJubaandMalakal,inUpper Nile State.At that time, the estimated population of the city of Wau was about 128,100.[18]In 2011, the city's population was estimated at 151,320.[19]
| Year | Population[20] |
|---|---|
| 1973 | 52,800 |
| 1983 | 58,000 |
| 1993 | 84,000 |
| 2010 | 128,100 |
| 2011 | 151,320 |
Religion
[edit]ItsCathedralof St. Mary (built 1905, before the erection of the formerApostolic Prefecture of Bahr el-Ghazal) is the episcopal see of theRoman Catholic Diocese of Wau,which serves the province's religious majority.
Economy
[edit]
Wau is a vibrant economic center by the standards of the newly establishedRepublic of South Sudan,and serves as hub for trade betweenDarfur,Bahr al Ghazal,andEquatoria.[14]The major contributors to the local economy include:
- Buffalo Commercial Bankbranch
- Equity Bank (South Sudan)[21]branch
- Ivory Bankbranch
- Kenya Commercial Bank (South Sudan)branch[22]
- Catholic University of South Sudan,Wau campus
- University of Bahr El-Ghazal
- Wau Airport
- Wau County Government
- Wau state Government
- RCS - Radio & Satellite Communication
- Commercial Bank of Ethiopia (South Sudan Subsidiary Comp.) expected shortly
Transport and infrastructure
[edit]
- Wau Railway Station- is the terminus of anarrow gaugebranch line of theSudan Railways.A plan exists, as of 2008, to open astandard gaugeline north fromGuluinUgandato Wau. Through trains fromKhartoumtoMombasawould be possible only if one of the lines was regauged. Its functionality would depend on post-conflict reconstruction.
- Wau Airport- The airport, (IATA:WUU,ICAO:HSWW) has a single paved runway which measures 2,500 metres (8,200 ft) in length.
- The city hostsUniversity of Bahr El-Ghazaland many secondary and primary schools.
- TheCatholic University of South Sudanmaintains a campus in the city.[23]
- Wau Stadium - A soccer stadium in the middle of town
- TheCathedral of St. Maryin Wau was built between 1951 and 1956.
- There are five (5) main roads out of town:
- B38-Northleads directly north toGogrial,South Sudan
- B43-Southleads southeast toTonj,South Sudan
- A44-Southleads directly south toTumbura,South Sudan
- B41-Westleads west toRaga, South Sudan
- B43-Northleads northwest toAweil, South Sudan
- Southern National Park - Located about 100 kilometres (62 mi), by road, south of Wau along A44-South
Geography and climate
[edit]Like other parts of South Sudan and theEast Sudanian savanna,Wau has atropical savanna climate(KöppenAw), with a wet season and a dry season and the temperature being hot year-round. The average annual mean temperature is 27.8 °C (82.0 °F), the average annual high temperature is 34.7 °C (94.5 °F), while the average annual low temperature is 20.9 °C (69.6 °F). 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 38.1 °C (100.6 °F) and the highest mean at 30.4 °C (86.7 °F). April has the highest average low at 23.8 °C (74.8 °F). August and July have the lowest average high at 31.4 °C (88.5 °F), with August having the lowest mean at 26.2 °C (79.2 °F). December has the lowest average low at 17.9 °C (64.2 °F).
Wau receives 1,074.5 millimetres (42.30 in) 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 192.3 millimetres (7.57 in) 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 the dry season, with February having a humidity at just 26% and August having a humidity at 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.
| Climate data for Wau, South Sudan | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °C (°F) | 41.1 (106.0) |
42.2 (108.0) |
43.5 (110.3) |
42.0 (107.6) |
41.5 (106.7) |
38.5 (101.3) |
36.5 (97.7) |
36.7 (98.1) |
40.0 (104.0) |
39.2 (102.6) |
38.5 (101.3) |
39.5 (103.1) |
43.5 (110.3) |
| Mean daily maximum °C (°F) | 35.5 (95.9) |
37.1 (98.8) |
38.1 (100.6) |
37.4 (99.3) |
35.3 (95.5) |
32.9 (91.2) |
31.4 (88.5) |
31.4 (88.5) |
32.6 (90.7) |
33.8 (92.8) |
35.2 (95.4) |
35.2 (95.4) |
34.7 (94.5) |
| Daily mean °C (°F) | 26.8 (80.2) |
28.5 (83.3) |
30.4 (86.7) |
30.6 (87.1) |
29.3 (84.7) |
27.5 (81.5) |
26.3 (79.3) |
26.2 (79.2) |
26.8 (80.2) |
27.4 (81.3) |
27.4 (81.3) |
26.5 (79.7) |
27.8 (82.0) |
| Mean daily minimum °C (°F) | 19.1 (66.4) |
19.9 (67.8) |
22.7 (72.9) |
23.8 (74.8) |
23.2 (73.8) |
22.0 (71.6) |
21.2 (70.2) |
21.0 (69.8) |
21.0 (69.8) |
21.0 (69.8) |
19.6 (67.3) |
17.9 (64.2) |
20.9 (69.6) |
| Record low °C (°F) | 9.3 (48.7) |
12.5 (54.5) |
14.9 (58.8) |
16.5 (61.7) |
19.5 (67.1) |
17.7 (63.9) |
18.0 (64.4) |
18.6 (65.5) |
17.0 (62.6) |
16.4 (61.5) |
11.4 (52.5) |
10.3 (50.5) |
9.3 (48.7) |
| Averageprecipitationmm (inches) | 1.3 (0.05) |
3.6 (0.14) |
18.6 (0.73) |
68.3 (2.69) |
118.8 (4.68) |
177.4 (6.98) |
176.0 (6.93) |
192.3 (7.57) |
179.4 (7.06) |
123.8 (4.87) |
14.9 (0.59) |
0.1 (0.00) |
1,074.5 (42.30) |
| Average precipitation days(≥ 0.1 mm) | 0.2 | 0.3 | 3.4 | 6.3 | 11.4 | 12.7 | 15.9 | 15.5 | 23.7 | 11.2 | 1.7 | 0.1 | 102.4 |
| Averagerelative humidity(%) | 29 | 26 | 35 | 48 | 62 | 71 | 76 | 77 | 74 | 69 | 48 | 35 | 54 |
| Mean monthlysunshine hours | 288.3 | 246.4 | 229.4 | 228.0 | 220.1 | 204.0 | 182.9 | 192.2 | 204.0 | 223.2 | 264.0 | 294.5 | 2,777 |
| Mean dailysunshine hours | 9.3 | 8.8 | 7.4 | 7.6 | 7.1 | 6.8 | 5.9 | 6.2 | 6.8 | 7.2 | 8.8 | 9.5 | 7.6 |
| Percentpossible sunshine | 79 | 74 | 62 | 61 | 60 | 54 | 47 | 50 | 56 | 60 | 75 | 82 | 63 |
| Source: NOAA[24] | |||||||||||||
Notable locals
[edit]Some of the notable people from Wau include
- Alek Wek,South Sudanese-British model and designer
- Captain Bulus Abushaka - Famous Sudanese soccer goal keeper
- Captain Samuel Illario - El Marikh start
- Clement Mboro - veteran politician
- CardinalGabriel 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
- Joseph Ukel- veteran politician
- Thon Maker- Former NBA basketball player
- Mari Malek- model, DJ and activist
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^"Wau County, Western Bahr El Ghazal State".Retrieved23 December2023.
- ^PSI et al. (2014),p. 4.
- ^Fighting in Wau; Red cross calls for civilians to be sparedArchived18 August 2016 at theWayback MachineRadio Tamazuj
- ^calculate travel time."Estimated Road Distance Between Juba And Wau".Travelmath.com.Retrieved11 April2013.
- ^Vuylsteke, Sarah (December 2018)."IDENTITY AND SELF-DETERMINATION: The Fertit opposition in South Sudan"(PDF).pp. 5, 16.
- ^A city shaped like a giraffe?Toronto Star,18 August 2010, by Maggie Fick, Associated Press
- ^ab"Thousands of South Sudanese IDPs Take Shelter at Wau Church".Voice of America.13 December 2016.Retrieved24 January2017.
- ^Small Arms Survey (2014).
- ^"UNMISS denies that refuge-seekers in Wau were turned away".Radio Tamazuj.16 May 2014.Retrieved11 August2018.
- ^"President Kiir fires Wau state governor".Sudan Tribune.24 June 2016.Retrieved12 July2016.
- ^"South Sudan: Civilians killed in Wau fighting".Al Jazeera.10 April 2017.Retrieved19 April2017.
- ^Malia Zimmerman (13 April 2017)."South Sudan's silent slaughter: Dinka massacre unchecked by regional, international groups".Fox News.Retrieved19 April2017.
- ^"IOM: 8,000 people displaced by Wau violence".Radio Tamazuj.13 April 2017.Retrieved19 April2017.
- ^ab"South Sudan: Gunfights within Bahr el Ghazal capital".Radio Tamazuj.27 April 2014.Retrieved2 July2018.
- ^"Governor strongly denies Mapel massacre claims".Radio Tamazuj.28 April 2014.Retrieved25 July2018.
- ^"South Sudan: Civilians killed in Wau fighting".Al Jazeera.10 April 2017.Retrieved19 April2017.
- ^Michael Atit; John Tanza (10 April 2017)."Gunmen in Government Uniforms Go on Massacre in Wau Town".Voice of America.Retrieved22 May2017.
- ^"Estimated Population of Sudanese Cities & Towns In 2010".World-gazetteer.com.Retrieved11 April2013.[dead link]
- ^"Estimated Population of Waw In 2011".Wolframalpha.com.Retrieved11 April2013.
- ^"Estimated Population of Wau (1973 - 2010)".World-gazetteer.com.Retrieved11 April2013.[dead link]
- ^Riungu, Catherine (17 January 2011)."East Africa: Equity Bank Plans Further Expansion in Southern Sudan".The East African (Nairobi).Retrieved6 July2017.
- ^KCB Expands Branch Network In South Sudan[dead link]
- ^Sean, Michael (11 November 2010)."Catholic University Maintains A Campus In Wau".Ncronline.org.Retrieved11 April2013.
- ^"Wau Climate Normals 1961–1990".National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.Retrieved16 January2015.
Bibliography
[edit]- PSI South Sudan;Western Bahr el Ghazal State Ministry of Health; Wau County Health Department; Western Bahr el Ghazal Relief and Rehabilitation Commission (2014).Pre-Harvest Anthropometric and Mortality Survey. Wau County, Western Bahr El Ghazal, South Sudan(PDF).Washington, D.C.:Population Services International.
- The Conflict in Northern and Western Bahrel Ghazal States(PDF).Geneva:Small Arms Survey.16 October 2014.
- Essays, UK (November 2018)."Sample Undergraduate 1st Education Essay".Nottingham, UK: UKEssays.com.Retrieved22 November2020.
Sources and external links
[edit]
- Location of Wau At Google Maps
- GCatholic, with Google satellite photo/map - Wau's Roman Catholic cathedral of Mary
- Human Rights Watch (1999) Famine in Sudan, 1998: The Human Rights Causes.
- Detailed Map of The City of Wau
- Photos of Wau River Lodge, A Private Establishment
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