Pierre-André Kombila

Pierre-André Kombila Koumba (born 8 May 1941) is a Gabonese politician, professor, and medical doctor. He was the First Secretary of the National Rally of Woodcutters (RNB), Gabon's main opposition party, from 1990 to 1998; he then led a split from the RNB, establishing the more radical National Rally of Woodcutters - Democrats (RNB-D) in 1998. He was nominated as the RNB-D's candidate for the 1998 presidential election, but received only a small share of the vote. Later, he abandoned his opposition to President Omar Bongo and joined the government, serving as Minister of Technical and Vocational Education from 2006 to 2009 and as Minister of Hydraulic Resources and New Energies in 2009. Following Bongo's death, he rejoined the opposition in mid-2009.

Kombila was born in Lac Anengué, near Port-Gentil, and studied medicine in France, becoming a cardiologist; he was also a member of the Federation of Black African Students in France. After graduating, Kombila declined job opportunities in Europe and chose to return home to Gabon in 1977; he was personally congratulated by President Omar Bongo on 6 September 1977. In 1978, he founded the cardiology department at the Central Hospital of Libreville.

Kombila, an internationally respected cardiologist, is a member of the Pan-African Cardiology Society, as well as an associate member and correspondent of the French Cardiology Society.

As an opposition politician, Kombila became First Secretary of the National Rally of Woodcutters (RNB) in 1990 and was elected to the National Assembly as an RNB candidate in the Moabi constituency of Nyanga Province in the 1990 parliamentary election. He was designated as the Chairman of the Committee for Free and Democratic Elections, an opposition body, in June 1993.

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