Baltasar Ebang Engonga: Man at centre of Equatorial Guinea scandal speaks

Baltasar Ebang Engonga, a high-ranking Equatorial Guinean civil servant embroiled in a viral scandal, has spoken publicly for the first time amid widespread controversy over leaked videos allegedly showing him engaging in sexual acts within his office. 

Engonga, who serves as the head of the National Financial Investigation Agency and is a relative of President Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo, took to Facebook to share his emotions, posting, “Family is everything” alongside a photo of himself with a woman and children. The post included the caption “feeling sad.”

The scandal has ignited a national outcry and prompted a stern warning from Vice-President Teodoro Obiang Mangue, who has vowed “severe measures” against civil servants caught engaging in sex acts at work. 

Describing it as a “flagrant violation of the code of conduct,” Mangue announced that any official found guilty of such actions would be suspended. In response to the viral incident, he ordered the installation of surveillance cameras in government buildings, including courts and ministries, to curb “indecent and illicit acts.”

A statement from the vice-president’s office confirmed that the measures were introduced in light of the videos, which it claimed had “denigrated the image of the country.” Vice-President Obiang Mangue has also recommended an official investigation into the matter.

The explicit videos reportedly depict Engonga engaging in sexual acts with multiple women, including the spouses of other high-profile officials, and have caused a stir across Equatorial Guinea. 

The footage surfaced shortly after Engonga was detained on unrelated corruption charges, as reported by state television TVGE. The videos have since proliferated on social media, with Vice-President Obiang Mangue calling on telecom companies to restrict their spread. Since his directive, internet services, particularly downloads of images, have been noticeably disrupted, according to local sources.

Following the scandal, Chief Prosecutor Anatolio Nzang Nguema told state media that if Engonga was found to be “infected with a sexually transmitted disease,” he could face charges of endangering public health. 

Known by the nickname “Bello” – Spanish for “beautiful” – due to his reputed good looks, Engonga has maintained silence on the allegations themselves, choosing instead to emphasise the importance of family in his social media post.

The scandal surrounding Engonga, who as head of the National Financial Investigation Agency is tasked with tackling financial crimes, has drawn attention to the complex interplay of power, privacy, and public conduct within Equatorial Guinea’s government. 

With the investigation now underway and heightened security measures in place, many in Equatorial Guinea are watching closely to see how the situation unfolds.