After the people of the United States elected Donald Trump as their new president, world leaders gathered to warmly greet the 47th POTUS. Meanwhile, Equatorial Guinea, a largely insignificant Central African country, is among the top Google trends since November 4, 2024.
Meanwhile, in Malabo, the capital of the former Spanish colony, government officials are scrambling to install security cameras at government facilities while citizens face problems with their internet download speeds.
At the heart of it all is Baltasar Ebang Engonga, Director General of Equatorial Guinea’s National Financial Investigation Agency (ANIF). He single-handedly drew the attention of netizens worldwide to his country amid the 2024 US election. According to reports, the official facing corruption charges was found in possession of over 400 sex tapes, many reportedly consensual. The women found sharing a bed with Baltasar Ebang Engonga are said to include the sister of the country’s president and the wives of several high-ranking government officials and his colleagues.
Equatorial Guinea sex tape scandal
The fact that the sex tapes were leaked online at a time when Engonga was facing serious allegations of corruption has raised suspicions. The fact that he stored as many as 400 private videos obviously meant that it was recorded on purpose. Engonga purposefully leaked his private moments with women of national importance to distract the public from the ongoing investigation against him, many claimed.
The sex tapes were leaked online shortly after the ANIF DG was taken into custody on graft charges. The discovery of the clips was accidental as authorities were going through Engonga’s digital properties as part of the investigation. However, there was no information on the source of the leak.
Baltasar Ebang Engonga faced severe backlash online after the videos went viral on the internet, reports said. Taking action, the government has ordered telecom companies to take necessary measures to curb the spread of the said sexband. Equatorial Guinea is also experiencing a severe drop in download speeds since the leak gained national attention, the AFP news agency cited.
The government quickly shifted into damage control mode and ordered an investigation into Engonga’s “office operations” along with his financials. Engonga could face charges of endangering public health on the background of having maintained sexual relations with so many women, the media said. On Tuesday, the installation of surveillance cameras began on a war footing at Equatorial Guinea government offices, they added.
Who is Baltasar Engonga?
Baltasar Ebang Engonga, 54, is a member of the politically powerful Equatorial Guinea family to which incumbent President Teodoro Obiang belongs. The son of Central African Economic and Monetary Community (CEMAC) president Baltasar Engonga Edj’oo, Engonga began his political career in 1998 when he became education minister, the BBC said. He is married and has six children.
His victims include his sister-in-law, a cousin and even the president’s sister, according to reports. Spouses of several civil servants in the country were among the victims of the video leak. Although some of the videos appeared consensual, an investigation is underway to confirm whether they were rape or threats. It is also being investigated whether any woman has reached the authorities with an official complaint of sexual assault against him so far, African media added.
The victim blames full throttle
At the same time, the development has given the already existing sexist stories a boost on the internet. “The fact that the Equatorial Guinea officer was able to sleep with 6 of the 8 female workers in his office is exactly why I will never create a career woman. I firmly believe that a woman’s money should always come from her husband.” one user wrote on the background of the development.
Blaming women for what happened, another user on X wrote: “A man cheated on his wife with 400 women. In other words, 400 women cheated on their husbands.
There was only one man who cheated on his wife versus 400 women who cheated on their husbands. You yourself have reason for this matter. SAVE WOMEN.”
Most posts contained photos of multiple photos purported to be of the victims and thus unsuitable for enhancement.
