| Official Name: | Paoua |
| Pushpin Map: | Central African Republic |
| Pushpin Label Position: | bottom |
| Pushpin Map Caption: | Location in Central African Republic |
| Subdivision Type: | Country |
| Subdivision Name: | Central African Republic |
| Subdivision Name1: | Lim-Pendé |
| Subdivision Type2: | District |
| Leader Title: | Sub-Prefect |
| Leader Name: | Boniface Désiré Bissadet[1] |
| Leader Title1: | Mayor |
| Leader Name1: | Marc Ouefio[2] |
| Unit Pref: | Imperial |
| Population As Of: | 2003 |
| Population Total: | 17,370 |
| Population Blank1 Title: | Ethnicities |
| Population Blank2 Title: | Religions |
| Coordinates: | 7.25°N 42°W |
Paoua is a town located in the Central African Republic prefecture of Lim-Pendé.The town is the birthplace of the former president of the Central African Republic, Ange-Félix Patassé and mathematician, Gaston Nguérékata.
In 1994, electricity was installed in Paoua.[3]
Paoua and its surrounding territories have become something of a ghost town after rebel and government soldier attacks in 2006 and 2007, with much of the population fleeing into the bush or into refugee camps.[4]
On 28 March 2013 Paoua was captured by Séléka rebels.[5] In January 2014 the town was captured by rebels from Revolution and Justice group.[6] On 12 January 2018 MINUSCA launched operation Mbaranga securing Paoua city and forcing armed groups to move 50 km from the city.[7] Central African Armed Forces were redeployed there subsequently on 28 January.[8]
In December 2020, Paoua became the capital of Lim-Pendé Prefecture.[9]