Equatorial Guinea Sex Scandal: Baltasar Ebang Engonga Faces Prosecution and Political Backlash

Equatorial Guinea has been embroiled in a significant sex scandal involving Baltasar Ebang Engonga, the former Director General of the National Agency for Financial Investigation. The scandal erupted after hundreds of leaked videos surfaced online, showing Engonga engaged in sexual activities with multiple women, including some who are married and related to prominent government officials.

The videos, which were widely shared on social media platforms such as WhatsApp, Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and X, have sparked widespread outrage and condemnation. Engonga, who is a nephew of President Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo and a married man with six children, has been dismissed from his position due to the scandal. President Obiang Nguema Mbasogo appointed Zenón Obiang Obiang Avomo as the new Director General of the National Agency for Financial Investigation, replacing Engonga.

The Government of Equatorial Guinea has announced plans to prosecute Engonga for misconduct, citing violations of the country’s ethical and moral values. The Minister of Information, Press, and Culture, Jerónimo Osa Osa, stated that the government will conduct a thorough investigation through the State Attorney General’s Office to establish responsibilities at administrative, civil, and criminal levels.

A new theory has emerged suggesting that the leak of the videos may be politically motivated, aimed at discrediting Engonga who is a potential successor to the presidency. This theory points to a succession battle involving the vice-president, Teodoro Obiang Mangue, and his mother, who are allegedly trying to eliminate opposition.

The scandal has also ignited a global debate on consent, with questions raised about whether the women involved had given their consent to be filmed and for the videos to be saved and shared. One of the women involved claimed she had given her consent but believed the images had been deleted after viewing them.