Baltasar Ebang Engonga, the Director General of the National Financial Investigation Agency (ANIF) in Equatorial Guinea, has been dismissed from his post following the viral circulation of a video depicting him engaging in sexual activities. The video reportedly shows Engonga with over 400 women, some of whom are allegedly connected to influential figures in the country.
The Equatorial Guinean government took swift action after the video surfaced on social media, with President Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo, Engonga’s great-uncle, ordering his suspension. Engonga’s dismissal was formalized through a decree signed by the president.
In addition to Engonga’s removal, Vice-President Teodoro Mangue announced that stricter measures would be enforced against government officials involved in similar activities. This followed the leak of “sex tapes” that were reportedly filmed in government offices.
As part of the fallout, regulators and internet service providers were instructed to block access to the viral videos. The government also began installing cameras in government buildings, and several officials implicated in the scandal were suspended from their positions.
The Attorney General noted that while the recordings were consensual, Engonga could face legal repercussions if it is determined that he contracted or transmitted a sexually transmitted infection, which could lead to charges of public health violations.
First Lady Constancia Mangue Obiang condemned the incident, calling it a “social scandal” that has damaged the reputation of Equatorial Guinea. She expressed her frustration on Facebook, stating that the incident has gone beyond national borders, tarnishing the image of Equatorial Guinea’s women.
Engonga, 54, has been a prominent political figure in Equatorial Guinea for decades. He is the son of Baltasar Engonga Edjo, the current president of the Economic and Monetary Community of Central Africa (CEMAC). Engonga began his political career in 1998, serving as the Minister of Education, and is a father of six children.
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