Baltasar Engonga, the Director General of the National Financial Investigation Agency (ANIF) in Equatorial Guinea, has been arrested after authorities uncovered over 400 sextapes allegedly involving the wives and close relatives of prominent individuals in the country.
The scandal surfaced during a fraud investigation into Engonga, 54, which led to an unexpected search of his residence and office by ANIF officials. Authorities discovered a large collection of CDs containing videos of Engonga’s sexual encounters with various women, including the wives of high-profile individuals such as his own sister-in-law, a cousin, the President’s sister, the Police Director General’s wife, and spouses of nearly 20 government ministers.
The footage, which reportedly includes videos recorded in Engonga’s personal office, was said to have been made with the women’s consent. However, leaks of the videos have caused a media frenzy across the country. According to local outlet Ahora EG, Engonga has been embroiled in this unprecedented scandal since October of last year.
Known as “Bello” in his social circle, Engonga allegedly engaged in these encounters with both married women and prominent single figures, often filming them in various locations including hotels, homes, and even his office at the Ministry of Finance—sometimes with the national flag visible in the background. In response, the Equatorial Guinean government expressed that Engonga’s actions had severely damaged the country’s image, prompting swift disciplinary measures to restore public trust.
A statement from the government clarified its commitment to maintaining a “zero tolerance” stance toward behavior compromising public service integrity. This policy includes the immediate suspension of any officials found to have engaged in inappropriate conduct within ministry offices.
Addressing the viral nature of the sextapes, Attorney General Nzang Nguema emphasized that, although the women appear to have participated willingly, any reported cases of coercion or abuse will be taken seriously. Nguema also highlighted the potential health risks posed to the community due to unprotected sexual interactions in the videos, stressing the importance of safe environments for reporting abuse or assault.
On social media, Vice President Nguema Mangue reiterated that such behavior violates the Public Ethics Law, underscoring that respect and ethical conduct are paramount to maintaining public trust in Equatorial Guinea’s administration.
