Baltasar Engonga, the Director General of the National Financial Investigation Agency in Equatorial Guinea, has been arrested amidst a shocking scandal involving over 400 recorded sex tapes with wives of prominent figures in the country. Engonga, a 54-year-old economist, came under investigation for fraud, leading officials to search his residence and office. During the search, authorities discovered CDs containing footage of encounters with various high-profile women, including relatives of influential officials, such as the sister of the President, his cousin, his brother’s wife, and spouses of about 20 government ministers. The tapes were allegedly recorded with the participants’ consent, and the scandal has ignited widespread media attention as some of the footage has leaked online.
In response, Attorney General Nzang Nguema clarified that consensual relations do not constitute a crime in Equatorial Guinea, barring evidence of coercion or violence. However, Nguema emphasized that the situation presents a health risk for the public, highlighting potential spread of diseases and the legal implications for public integrity. He underscored the need for victims to feel safe reporting incidents of sexual abuse or assault.
To address the fallout, Equatorial Guinea’s government has suspended officials involved in sexual activities on ministry premises. The Vice President, Nguema Mangue, has condemned the actions, describing them as serious breaches of the Public Ethics Law and Code of Conduct, reaffirming the government’s commitment to a “zero tolerance” approach toward misconduct that undermines the integrity of public service.
