The Equatorial Guinea government has initiated an investigation following the release of over 400 leaked videos allegedly showing Baltasar Engonga, a high-ranking civil servant and Director-General of the National Financial Investigation Agency, engaging in sexual acts with multiple women, including the wives of notable officials.
In response to the scandal, Vice-President Teodoro Mangue announced stringent measures, including the installation of surveillance cameras in government buildings and judicial offices to prevent “indecent and illicit acts.” The government also suspended implicated officials, with Mangue affirming that “any official found engaging in sex acts at work would be sanctioned as this was a flagrant violation of the code of conduct.”
The leaked videos, which emerged during a fraud investigation involving Engonga, allegedly depict encounters with prominent individuals, including the wives of ministers and relatives of high-ranking officials. The tapes have ignited widespread outrage and have been described as one of the largest scandals in the nation’s history, tarnishing Equatorial Guinea’s global image.
According to a statement by the Equatorial Guinea Press and Information Office, measures to curb similar incidents in the future include enhanced security protocols in all judicial offices and the suspension of staff involved in the scandal.
The statement added, “The recent measures follow viral videos that have negatively impacted the country’s image. In response, the Vice President urgently summoned the President of the Supreme Court of Justice, the Attorney General, and key government members to discuss strategies for preventing such behaviors.”
This scandal, unfolding against a backdrop of mounting social media reactions, has cast a spotlight on the country’s public administration, prompting calls for accountability and reform in Equatorial Guinea’s government institutions.