[1] 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.
[5][6] Speaking to the Associated Press on this occasion, Kombila described the official results as "fraudulent" and said that he intended to form "a fighting government".
"[12] He said in December 2003 that an insufficient and declining rate of child vaccination in Gabon was leading to worrying increases in the prevalence of measles, whooping cough, tuberculosis, and neo-natal tetanus.
[13] Speaking in early 2004, he criticized traditional healers for spreading harmful, unscientific ideas, such as the notion that AIDS could be cured by having sex with a virgin.
[20] Subsequently, he and the RNB-D chose to support opposition candidate Pierre Mamboundou in the 30 August 2009 presidential election, and when a new government under Paul Biyoghé Mba was appointed on 22 July 2009, Kombila was not included.
[21] Kombila said that Biyoghé Mba was in office merely "to organize the victory of a candidate" (referring to PDG candidate Ali-Ben Bongo) and that he should resign along with his government; he also said that Interim President Rose Francine Rogombé should meet with the political class to discuss setting up a different structure to organize the election.
As an opposition leader, Kombila was critical of the government's response to the rioting; on 9 September 2009 he said that 15 bodies were present in a local morgue and that scores of people might have been killed.
She also criticized Kombila and other opposition leaders for their conduct in the wake of the election: "There are people who have used the media, used some journalists to appeal to hatred, to insurrection.