Equatorial Guinea official arrested over 400 sextapes with wives of VIPs

The Director General of National Financial Investigation Agency in Equatorial Guinea, Baltasar Engonga, has been arrested for allegedly recording over 400 sextapes of the wives of notable people in the country.

The scandal emerged in the course of a fraud investigation against the 54-year-old Economist which resulted in the search of his house and office on impromptu notice by ANIF officials who came across several CDs that later revealed his sexcapades with different married women.

The videos reportedly include encounters with high-profile individuals, such as his brother’s wife, his cousin, the sister of the President of Equatorial Guinea, the director general of Police’s wife, and about 20 of the country’s ministers’ wives, among others.

The footage, discovered in his personal office, was said to have been recorded with consent and has since been leaked online, causing a media uproar.

In a report by a local media platform, Ahora EG, since last October, Engonga has been involved in a sexual scandal unprecedented in the history of Equatorial Guinea.

The former ANIF DG better known as “Bello” had sexual relations with several women, some of them married, and filmed these intimate encounters.

The report read, “The most striking thing is that some scenes took place in his work office, including moments in which he is seen sleeping with a woman next to the National Flag. Based on this sexual scandal, the Executive has stated that the measure is a direct response to the acts that have affected the image of the country.

“With these new measures, the Government hopes to establish a clear precedent on the expected conduct of public officials in order to create a more respectful work environment in the public and private administration of Equatorial Guinea. For days now, erotic videos have been circulating on social media featuring Baltasar EBANG ENGONGA, better known as “Bello”, who is currently the Director General of the National Financial Investigation Agency (ANIF) and is currently imprisoned for alleged corruption issues.

“Baltasar EBANG ENGONGA is said to have filmed these scenes with the consent of the women themselves, which exonerates him from a possible crime of violation of integrity. In the videos, he is seen having unprotected sex with several women, including those married to powerful and well-known people in the country, but also with the most “diva and influential” single women in Equatorial Guinea. Some scenes take place in hotel rooms, houses, even in the protagonist’s office at the Ministry of Finance,” it added.

However, speaking on the viral sextapes, the Attorney General of the country, Nzang Nguema, has stressed that, although the images suggest that the women involved were not forced to participate, the law does not consider consensual sexual relations to be a crime, unless coercion or violence is proven. This highlights the importance of victims reporting situations of sexual abuse or assault.

Nguema also emphasised that the risk is not only for the women involved but also for their partners and the wider community, adding, “The possibility of a contagious disease being spread through these sexual interactions makes the situation even more critical.

He further pointed out that the onus is on victims to come forward in cases of rape or assault, highlighting the need for an environment where people feel safe and supported to report such incidents.

Reacting to the development on Monday, Equatorial Guinea has decided to take action by immediately suspending all officials who have had sexual relations in the offices of the country’s ministries.

The government claimed that the decision was part of its “zero tolerance” policy towards behaviour that compromises the integrity of the public service.

The Vice President of the Republic, Nguema Mangue, has pointed out that these behaviours constitute a flagrant violation of the Code of Conduct and the Public Ethics Law.

In his publication on X, he emphasized that “ethics and respect are fundamental in our Administration,” and that irresponsible attitudes that put citizen trust at risk will not be allowed.

Five Things You Probably Didn’t Know About Equatorial Guinea Official Arrested Over 400 Sextapes

Baltasar Engonga, the Director General of the National Financial Investigation Agency (ANIF) in Equatorial Guinea, is currently making headlines following allegations of his involvement in a major scandal. The 54-year-old economist was arrested after it was discovered he had allegedly recorded over 400 sextapes involving the wives of prominent individuals in the country. This shocking revelation came to light during a fraud investigation, which led to a surprise search of his residence and office. Officials reportedly found multiple CDs containing explicit content.

Here are five things you might not know about Baltasar Engonga:

1. Director of the National Financial Investigation Agency (ANIF)

Baltasar Engonga served as the Director General of the National Financial Investigation Agency (ANIF), where he was responsible for overseeing financial investigations and leading anti-corruption efforts. His role was crucial in tackling government corruption and promoting greater accountability within public institutions in Equatorial Guinea.

2. Known by the Nickname “Bello”

Engonga is often referred to as “Bello,” a nickname attributed to his striking good looks. This moniker became well-known among colleagues and the public alike.

3. Son of the CEMAC Commission Chairman

Engonga is the son of Baltasar Engonga Edjo’o, the current chairman of the Central African Economic and Monetary Community (CEMAC). CEMAC is an economic bloc consisting of six African countries: Cameroon, Chad, the Central African Republic, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, and the Republic of Congo.

4. Married with six children

Engonga is married and has six children, whom he often expresses deep affection for. In a recent tweet, he described his family as his “everything” and shared his pride in his role as a father. However, the ongoing scandal has put considerable strain on his family life, raising concerns about his personal integrity.

“I only have one wife and my 6 children. They keep me going. We are a happy family. They are my everything. God Bless Equatorial Guinea,” he tweeted on November 4, 2024.

5. Educated Economist

Born in 1970, Baltasar Engonga is a trained economist. He studied economics and finance at the University of Malabo, Equatorial Guinea, and went on to have a successful career as a public servant. His academic background and expertise in financial matters were once central to his role in combating corruption and financial mismanagement within the government.

The ongoing scandal has cast a shadow over his career, highlighting the complexities of public office and personal conduct in high-profile positions.