Scandal Erupts As Equatorial Guinea Official Arrested Over Sex Tape With Nation’s Elite

The Director General of Equatorial Guinea’s National Financial Investigation Agency (ANIF), Baltasar Engonga, has been detained amid allegations of filming explicit content involving over 400 women, including the wives of prominent figures in the nation.

The scandal surfaced during a fraud investigation targeting the 54-year-old economist, leading ANIF officials to conduct an unannounced search of his home and office.

During the search, investigators reportedly uncovered numerous CDs, which revealed Engonga’s intimate encounters with married women.

According to reports, the videos include interactions with high-profile individuals, such as Engonga’s brother’s wife, his cousin, the sister of Equatorial Guinea’s President, the wife of the Director General of Police, and spouses of around 20 ministers.

The footage, allegedly recorded with the women’s consent, was stored in his personal office and has since leaked online, igniting a media frenzy.

Local news outlet Ahora EG reported that Engonga’s conduct, which came to light last October, represents an unprecedented scandal for Equatorial Guinea.

Known as “Bello,” Engonga reportedly engaged in relations with numerous women, some married, and filmed these encounters.

Some scenes even took place in his ANIF office, featuring him alongside the national flag. In response, the government has announced new policies to uphold professional ethics within the public sector.

The Executive, aiming to set a precedent, declared its commitment to fostering a respectful work environment in Equatorial Guinea’s public and private institutions.

For several days, videos featuring Engonga have circulated widely on social media, displaying him in intimate settings with both married and single influential women, including locations such as hotels and his office at the Ministry of Finance.

Attorney General Nzang Nguema addressed the scandal, stating that while the footage shows no apparent coercion, the risk to public health and the potential spread of disease pose serious concerns.

He emphasized that laws only deem consensual sexual relations criminal if coercion is proven, encouraging victims of abuse to come forward in a supportive environment.

In response, the government has suspended all officials engaged in sexual activity within ministry offices as part of its “zero tolerance” policy on actions undermining public integrity.

Vice President Nguema Mangue condemned these behaviors as violations of the nation’s Code of Conduct and Public Ethics Law.

Posting on social media, he reiterated that “ethics and respect are fundamental in our Administration” and warned that actions compromising public trust will not be tolerated.