[7] After the outbreak of major clashes betweening government forces and Fertit militias in 2016, however, Waya was replaced by Andrea Mayar Achor on the orders of President Kiir.

Wau State is located in the Bahr el Ghazal region and it borders Aweil to the north, Gogrial to the northeast, Gbudwe to the south, Lol to the west, and Tonj to the east.

[3] Wau State is ethnically diverse,[9] as it lies on the tribal border between the Dinka and Fertit peoples, who constitute the region's majority.

[10] Furthermore, numerous ethnic minorities live in the state, such as Luo,[11][12] Jur Modo/Jur Beli, Balanda Boor/Balanda Bviri,[9][11][12] Ndogo, Keresh,[9] and Nuer.

[15] Wau, South Sudan has its own airport, and the city is located 650 kilometers (404 miles) from Juba, the capital.