 Sassou Nguesso returned to power in October 1997 at the conclusion of a civil war, and he appointed Bouya as Transport Adviser to the President in November 1997; Bouya was then considered part of Sassou Nguesso's "inner circle".He was additionally appointed as Delegate-General for Major Projects, while remaining Transport Adviser, in 2003; in his post as Delegate-General, he worked directly under the Presidency.Bouya was considered a powerful figure in the regime.