In a striking scandal that has captivated Equatorial Guinea and reverberated internationally, Baltasar Ebang Engonga, the head of the National Financial Investigation Agency and a close relative of President Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo, has been dismissed following the circulation of explicit videos depicting intimate encounters with several women, including partners of influential government figures. The footage, some allegedly shot within his finance ministry office, set social media ablaze, igniting a wave of public outrage and debate.
The videos surfaced online while Ebang Engonga was held in the infamous Black Beach prison in Malabo, facing separate charges related to alleged embezzlement of public funds. The virality of the scandal led to the swift issuance of a presidential decree removing him from office. News of the footage quickly spread, with the hashtag #BaltasarEbangEngonga trending and the story drawing attention on global news platforms.
Equatorial Guinean authorities reportedly took swift action to contain the spread of the content, ordering telecommunications providers to limit access to the videos. Despite these efforts, the scandal has sparked parodies, musical remixes, and even sparked debates in foreign parliaments, including Kenya’s, underscoring its reach beyond Equatorial Guinea’s borders.
A woman who appeared in the videos, choosing to remain anonymous, spoke on state broadcaster TVGE, voicing shock and frustration over the leak. She stated that while she had consented to the filming, she was assured the footage would be “immediately erased.” Now, she said, she feels “humiliated” and questions how the recordings were retained and ultimately shared.
Nicknamed “Bello” for his looks, Ebang Engonga hails from a prominent lineage; his father, Baltasar Engonga Edjo, is head of the Central African Economic and Monetary Community Commission. This incident has put a rare public spotlight on Equatorial Guinea’s political elite, as the country faces renewed scrutiny regarding its governance and the integrity of its leaders.
Chief prosecutor Anatolio Nzang Nguema has hinted that additional charges may follow, and medical evaluations are reportedly underway to assess potential public health risks. If evidence emerges that Engonga may have spread sexually transmitted infections, further legal repercussions are expected.
This scandal marks a defining moment in Equatorial Guinea, where President Obiang has enforced a strict code of conduct among officials since taking power in 1979. As the international community watches closely, this incident has turned the world’s attention to the West African nation, putting the country’s leaders under an unprecedented level of global scrutiny.
