Baltasar Engonga has been dismissed from his position as director-general of the National Financial Investigation Agency (ANIF) of Equatorial Guinea after sex videos involving him and multiple women surfaced online.
Mr Engonga appeared in about 400 alleged sex videos with several women, some linked to high-profile figures in the country.
The videos were said to have been found on his computer after officials probing fraud allegations searched his home and office.
President Teodoro Mbasogo ordered the dismissal of Engonga, son of Baltasar Edjo, current president of the Economic and Monetary Community of Central Africa (CEMAC), Real Equatorial Guinea reports.
The newspaper added that according to Decree No. 118/2024, dated November 4, the dismissal cites Engonga’s alleged misconduct in office, alongside family and social behaviour deemed incompatible with public office.
According to a statement, first lady Constancia Obiang expressed outrage over the scandal during a meeting with Prime Minister Manuel Nsue who oversees administrative coordination.
In the statement posted on Facebook Wednesday, Mrs Obiang was said to have called for immediate government intervention to uphold the dignity of Equatoguinean women and protect their privacy in the digital age.
She stressed that while the government has advanced gender equality, proactive measures are essential not only to respond to incidents like these but also to prevent them to ensure a safe and respectful environment for all women.
The prime minister said the government is contemplating stricter privacy laws as it grapples with the scandal’s impact on the nation’s public image and gender equality initiatives.
He said, “The case of Baltasar Ebang Engonga has sparked a broader discussion on the boundaries of privacy in the digital age and the role of institutions in protecting individuals’ fundamental rights. In this regard, the government emphasised the need for a comprehensive approach combining legislation, education, and social awareness to curb the proliferation of inappropriate online content.”
Earlier this week, the government imposed WhatsApp restrictions to limit the circulation of the videos to WiFi connection only. It also plans to install surveillance cameras in all state agency offices.
Meanwhile, Equatorial Guinea’s chief prosecutor Anatolio Nguema assured the people that if medical tests confirmed the 54-year-old Engonga had a sexually transmitted disease, he would face prosecution for endangering ‘public health.’
