Under serious pressure as a result of the 1997 civil war, President Pascal Lissouba appointed Kolélas, his old rival, as Prime Minister at the head of a national unity government in September 1997. Mampouya was then appointed as Kolélas' Political Adviser and Spokesman. Lissouba's attempt to secure his position through the formation of a national unity government was unsuccessful, however: the rebel forces loyal to Denis Sassou Nguesso captured Brazzaville in mid-October 1997, and Mampouya, who had a firm personal loyalty to Kolélas, fled into exile along with the MCDDI President on 14 October 1997.