MALABO, Equatorial Guinea – The government of Equatorial Guinea has launched legal action against Baltasar Engonga, former Director General of the National Financial Investigation Agency (ANIF), following revelations of a sex scandal that has shocked the nation.
Engonga is accused of multiple counts of misconduct, with officials describing his actions as serious violations of the country’s ethical and moral values.
In a statement over the weekend, Minister of Information, Press, and Culture Jerónimo Osa Osa announced that the Attorney General’s Office would conduct an extensive investigation into the allegations.
According to local news source Ahora EG, the government’s decision follows the circulation of videos purportedly showing Engonga engaging in sexual acts with various women, some of whom are married.
“These events severely undermine family and social cohesion,” the Public Prosecutor’s Office stated in an official release, “and the scandal has had a damaging impact on the image of Equatorial Guinea.”
The government expressed concern over the scandal’s effects on public morality and the potential public health implications, committing to “a thorough investigation to establish responsibilities at the administrative, civil, and criminal levels.”
The explicit videos, allegedly involving more than 400 recordings of Engonga and high-profile women, surfaced amid a broader probe into potential fraud and corruption in his tenure at ANIF.
Authorities reported that the footage was discovered on CDs in Engonga’s home and office during a search by investigators, sparking widespread media coverage and national backlash.
The Public Prosecutor’s Office has indicated that it will pursue legal action against Engonga and any accomplices, intending to hold them accountable for actions it sees as detrimental to the nation’s moral standards.
The government also aims to address critical issues related to the intersection of personal and public conduct, the protection of privacy, and the potential harm to individuals’ reputations.
The investigation underscores Equatorial Guinea’s ongoing commitment to upholding ethical standards within public office, and officials have urged the public to remain patient as the legal process unfolds.
The government has emphasised its dedication to protecting the rights of all affected parties, including the state, as it seeks to repair the damage done to social and familial structures and to the nation’s image.
