By Adonis Byemelwa
Equatorial Guinea’s financial crime agency director, Baltasar Ebang Engonga, has sparked an online storm after the leak of more than 400 explicit videos allegedly showing him in sexual encounters with multiple women, including the wives of government ministers, his brother’s wife, the daughter of the police chief, his pastor’s wife, his pregnant aunt, as well as the spouses of his friends and other government officials.
The scandal erupted after Engonga’s colleagues reportedly suspected him of corruption. Following a sting operation, authorities searched his residence for evidence and discovered a laptop containing hundreds of explicit videos. The footage, much of it reportedly recorded in his office at the Ministry of Finance, quickly spread across social media, creating a national uproar and prompting the government to intervene.
The public backlash over the videos has led to swift condemnation from high-ranking officials. On Monday, Vice President Teodoro Nguema Obiang Mangue announced on social media platform X that the government will suspend any public officials involved in "inappropriate conduct within ministry offices," labeling the actions a clear violation of public ethics and integrity standards.
While sex scandals involving public officials are not unprecedented, the scale of this incident has taken the nation by storm, casting a harsh spotlight on the behavior of high-profile figures. In response to the scandal’s rapid spread online, Vice President Obiang issued a 24-hour mandate to the Ministry of Communications, regulatory authorities, and telecom companies, urging them to block the distribution of the videos across platforms such as WhatsApp, Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and X. "We cannot stand by as these incidents tear families apart," Obiang, who oversees defense and security, declared.
The leaked videos reportedly surfaced on WhatsApp before finding their way to broader social media platforms, further escalating the scandal. Engonga, currently detained in the notorious Black Beach prison in Malabo on charges of public fund embezzlement, now faces additional legal scrutiny.
Equatorial Guinea’s Attorney General, Anatolio Nzang Nguema, told state broadcaster TVGE that if medical examinations reveal that Engonga transmitted any sexually transmitted infections, he could face charges relating to endangering public health. As authorities work to manage the fallout, the unprecedented scandal has spurred national conversations on ethics, accountability, and privacy in public office.