A high-ranking government official in Equatorial Guinea, Baltasar Ebang Engonga, Director General of the National Financial Investigation Agency (ANIF), has been arrested amid a sensational scandal involving hundreds of alleged sextapes with wives and sisters of prominent figures in the country. This scandal has triggered a national media frenzy and prompted swift governmental actions.
Engonga, widely known as “Bello,” was initially investigated as part of a corruption probe. During searches of his residence and office, ANIF officials reportedly discovered over 400 CDs containing videos of intimate encounters with various women, including wives of high-profile individuals and members of influential families. The recordings allegedly include encounters with the wife of the Director General of Police, the sister of President Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo, his own brother’s wife, and spouses of nearly 20 ministers.
The local media outlet Ahora EG reported that some of the recordings, which were made with the women’s consent, took place within government buildings. In certain footage, Engonga is said to appear with women in his work office, with some scenes featuring the national flag, raising serious ethical and legal questions. This conduct has shocked the nation, with public opinion divided over the personal boundaries of government officials and the severe breach of public trust.
The scandal has deeply embarrassed the government, leading the Vice President of the Republic, Nguema Mangue, to take a firm stand on the matter. In an official statement on X (formerly Twitter), Mangue condemned the behavior, calling it a “flagrant violation” of the nation’s Public Ethics Law. “Ethics and respect are fundamental in our Administration,” he emphasized. The Vice President also announced a “zero tolerance” policy towards any officials engaged in inappropriate conduct within the workplace, including an immediate suspension of all officials found to have engaged in sexual relations in government offices.
The Attorney General, Nzang Nguema, also weighed in on the scandal, addressing the legal implications of the case. He highlighted that while the tapes suggest consensual encounters, laws concerning privacy and integrity may still be applied. “Although the images suggest that the women involved were not forced, the spread of contagious diseases through these interactions makes this matter critical,” he stated. He further urged victims of coercion or assault to report incidents, underlining the need for a safe environment for such disclosures.
For days, erotic videos allegedly featuring Engonga have circulated on social media, compounding the scandal and sparking outrage across the country. With images now widely leaked online, this scandal has become one of the most far-reaching in Equatorial Guinea’s history. Engonga’s arrest and the ongoing fallout mark a watershed moment for the nation’s political landscape, as citizens and officials alike grapple with the implications of trust, privacy, and the expectations of ethical behavior in public office.
As the government seeks to repair its image and restore public trust, officials hope that new, stricter policies will establish a clear precedent for conduct in public administration. Meanwhile, the public remains fixated on the revelations, with many questioning the potential implications for other high-ranking officials and their families, as well as the broader impact on Equatorial Guinea’s social fabric.
