Malabo – A major scandal is engulfing Equatorial Guinea’s political and social landscape following the leak of hundreds of explicit videos allegedly featuring Baltasar Ebang Engonga, head of the National Financial Investigation Agency, engaging in sexual acts with numerous women, with some of them being high profile women married to senior government officials.
The videos, reportedly discovered during a separate corruption investigation, have caused widespread outrage and prompted swift action from the government.
Engonga, a relative of President Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo, has not yet commented publicly on the allegations. However, the videos, which have circulated widely on social media, depict him in compromising situations with a range of women, including the wives and relatives of several high-ranking officials. The sheer number of women, believed to be nearly 400 in total, involved and their connections to the government have amplified the shock and controversy surrounding the case.
Among those reportedly featured in the videos are:
- the President’s sister;
- the wife of the Director-General of Police;
- the daughter of the Director-General of Police (he reportedly banged mother and daughter);
- the wife of the Director of Presidential Security;
- the wife of the Attorney General
- the wives of approximately 20 ministers, including the Minister of Mines (Minister Oburu);
- his bodyguard’s wife;
- his pastor’s wife;
- his pastor’s brother’s wife;
- his own brother’s wife;
- his uncle’s pregnant wife;
- his godfather’s wife;
- his centre’s wife;
- and fifteen friends of his younger sister, among others.
The discovery of the videos occurred during a separate investigation into Engonga’s alleged involvement in corruption and embezzlement of public funds. Investigators reportedly found approximately 400 explicit videos stored on Engonga’s computer. While the source of the leak remains unknown, the videos’ rapid spread on social media has led to significant public discussion and condemnation.
In response to the scandal, Vice-President Teodoro Obiang Mangue swiftly announced Engonga’s suspension and the launch of a full investigation. In a statement released on X, the Vice-President declared that any government officials found engaging in sexual activity within their workplaces would face immediate dismissal. He stated that this behaviour represents a “flagrant violation of the code of conduct”.
The Vice President’s office also issued a statement condemning the videos’ circulation, stating that they had “denigrated the image of the country”. Furthermore, the Vice-President has ordered the installation of surveillance cameras in government buildings, including courts and ministries, to deter similar incidents in the future and to combat “indecent and illicit acts.”
The gravity of the situation has prompted further investigations beyond the immediate scandal. Equatorial Guinea’s chief prosecutor, Anatolio Nzang Nguema, announced that authorities are investigating whether Engonga may have knowingly spread sexually transmitted diseases through these encounters.
Nzang Nguema stated, “The authorities want to establish whether the man deliberately used these relationships to spread a possible disease among the population,” suggesting potential charges related to public health endangerment.
The Engonga affair has undeniably shaken Equatorial Guinea. The scale of the alleged misconduct, the involvement of high-profile individuals, and the government’s decisive response highlight the seriousness of the situation. The ongoing investigations promise to reveal further details and potentially expose a wider network of impropriety within the government.
