Equatorial Guinea Dismisses Baltasar as Head of Financial Investigation Agency Following Viral Video Scandal

Authorities in Equatorial Guinea have dismissed Baltasar Ebang Engonga as the Director General of the National Financial Investigation Agency (ANIF) after a video allegedly showing him in intimate acts with multiple women went viral on social media.

The government had initially suspended Engonga after the leaked footage, which reportedly showed him with over 400 women, some said to be connected to high-ranking officials within the country.

President Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo ultimately ordered his dismissal, signing the decree that ended Engonga’s tenure. Engonga is the son of Baltasar Engonga Edjo, the current president of the Economic and Monetary Community of Central Africa (CEMAC).

Vice-President Teodoro Mangue condemned the incident, promising strict measures against any government officials found engaging in sexual activities within their workplaces. He announced on his social media that such actions represent a violation of the nation’s code of conduct and ethics laws and pledged immediate suspensions for those involved.

The scandal emerged alongside Engonga’s arrest on separate charges related to alleged corruption, which led regulators and internet service providers to attempt to block the circulation of the videos. The country’s attorney general acknowledged that the interactions appeared consensual, but said Engonga could face charges for “public health crimes” if he has any sexually transmitted infections.

First Lady Constancia Mangue Obiang expressed her dismay, calling the incident “embarrassing” and highlighting its impact on the image of women in Equatorial Guinea. She met with Prime Minister Manuel Osa Nsue to address the situation and underscored her disappointment at how the scandal reflects on the nation.

Baltasar Ebang Engonga, a 54-year-old politician and father of six, started his political career in 1998 as the Minister of Education. The fallout from his dismissal casts a spotlight on the country’s ongoing challenges with public integrity and ethics at the highest levels of government.

ENDS