Barthélemy Zinga-Pirioua

Barthélemy Paul Zinga-Pirioua (23 December 1917 - unknown), often written Barthélemy Zinga-Piroua, was a Central African politician, clerk, and interpreter who served in various prefectural positions under two different presidents.

Zinga-Pirioua was born in Kouango on 23 December 1917 to Paoul Pirioua and Dorothée Limotho. In the 1930s, he worked as a clerk for the colonial government at Kouango. He served as an interpreter in Kouango in 1937.^[1] On 29 August 1945, he earned the évolué status while working as an administrative clerk.^[2]

In the 1946, Zinga-Pirioua was elected as a Member of the Representative Council representing Fort Sibut district from Ubangi Economic and Social Action (AESO) faction. While serving as a council member, he joined Cotton Producers' Cooperative and served on its board in 1950. He failed to win a seat at the Territorial Assembly representing Ouaka in the 1952 election. His failure to win the 1952 election led him to join MESAN.^[1] In 1952, he was registered as a 2nd echelon clerk in Ubangi-Shari government administration.^[3]

In an unknown year, Zinga-Pirioua entered the territorial administration services and was assigned to the Ouaka region.^[1] On 24 May 1958, he became the acting Chief of Ippy District.^[4] During his service as the acting Chief of Ippy District, he was appointed as the acting Chief of Bakala District on 18 June 1959.^[5]

When the Central African Republic became an independent country on 13 August 1960, Zinga-Pirioua served as the Acting Chief of the Bakala District.^[5] On 4 November 1960, he became Chief of Grimari District. When Grimari's administrative division status was replaced from a district to a sub-prefect on 23 January 1961, he became the Sub-prefect of Grimari until 16 September.^[6] While serving as Sub-prefect of Grimari, he also served as Prefect of Ouaka from 24 July to 16 September.^[7]

The government appointed Zinga-Pirioua as a Prefect of Ouham on 16 September 1961, serving that position for almost a year.^[8] Afterwards, he became the Prefect of Basse-Kotto from 4 January 1963 to 9 December 1965.^[9] He then worked as a Prefect of Bamingui-Bangoran from 9 December 1965 to 12 January 1968.^[10] Subsequently, he served as Prefect of Haute-Sangha (now Mambéré-Kadéï) from 12 January 1968 to 30 September 1970.^[11] He then became the Mayor of the 3rd arrondissement of Bangui (30 September 1970-20 March 1971) and was later reinstated as Prefect of Haute-Sangha on 20 March 1971, serving for six months.^[12][11]

On 24 December 1973, Zinga-Pirioua became the Prefect of Lobaye. While serving as prefect of Lobaye, he also served as the Mayor of Mbaïki.^[13] He resigned from both positions on 31 December 1974, the day he announced his retirement.^[13][1] He died in an unknown year.^[1]

• , Officer Order of Central African Merit - 1 December 1967.^[1]
• Officer Operation Bokassa - 19 December 1974.^[1]

• Serre, Jacques; Fandos-Rius, Juan (2014). Répertoire de l'administration territoriale de la République centrafricaine. Paris: L’Harmattan. p. 178. ISBN 978-2-343-01298-8.