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]
^Rius, Juan Fandos; Bradshaw, Richard (2016). Historical Dictionary of the Central African Republic. Maryland: Rowman & Littlefield. p. 251. ISBN9780810879928.