 Born at Mouembé in Cuvette Region, Bouya is an ethnic Mbochi related to Denis Sassou Nguesso, who became President of Congo-Brazzaville in 1979; he is the son of a cousin of Sassou Nguesso.He worked as a professional pilot, flying a presidential Boeing 727 from 1989 to 1992.After Sassou Nguesso was succeeded by Pascal Lissouba in 1992, Bouya instead flew a Fokker 28 for Lina Congo, the national airline, until 1997.