[2] A member of the Vungu ethnic group,[3] Mbou Yembi was born at Ilendo, near Mouila, and received his higher education in France.
[5] In April 2005, Mbou Yembi expressed his hope that the opposition could agree on a single candidate to face President Omar Bongo in the November 2005 presidential election.
[11] In December 2007, he sharply criticized the government, saying that it had failed because large amounts of money had been spent on health and roads without achieving sufficient results.
[12] Following the death of President Bongo in June 2009, Mbou Yembi announced on 16 July that his party would rally behind a single candidate of the opposition in the 30 August 2009 presidential election.
[13] In November 2009, Mbou Yembi expressed opposition to the implementation of a law making public service incompatible with holding a leading position in a political party.