NAIROBI, Kenya- In Equatorial Guinea, what the rest of the world might dismiss as a lurid scandal is, in fact, the latest installment in a complex power struggle over who will succeed President Teodoro Obiang Nguema, the world’s longest-serving head of state.
A cascade of leaked sex tapes featuring Baltasar Ebang Engonga, a senior civil servant and nephew of Obiang, has set social media ablaze, exposing intimate encounters and igniting speculation about political sabotage.
With over 150 videos allegedly leaked, the scandal has flooded social media platforms, captivating audiences within Equatorial Guinea and beyond.
But beneath the salacious headlines lies a story of political ambition, betrayal, and possibly a calculated attempt to discredit a potential presidential successor.
Baltasar Ebang Engonga, also known as “Bello” for his good looks, was once seen as a serious contender for Equatorial Guinea’s top office.
He’s part of the political elite, serving as head of the National Financial Investigation Agency, responsible for tackling financial crimes like money laundering.
However, following his arrest on charges of embezzling funds into secret offshore accounts, Engonga’s reputation has unraveled, with the release of these explicit tapes only adding fuel to the fire.
The timing of these leaks is striking, with many speculating that the videos were deliberately released to discredit Engonga.
In a society where a free press is non-existent and information is tightly controlled, theories have emerged that elements within the government itself—possibly those loyal to Vice-President Teodoro Obiang Mangue, the president’s son—could be behind the leaks.
Vice-President Obiang, who has been accused of corruption in France and has had assets seized internationally, is widely suspected of seeking to eliminate political threats to secure his own path to the presidency.
The explicit videos first appeared on Telegram and quickly circulated on WhatsApp, leading to widespread online debate and shock, particularly since many of the women involved were relatives of powerful figures.
The vice-president responded swiftly, giving telecommunications companies 24 hours to curtail the videos’ spread and ordering an investigation into those responsible for leaking the footage.
This incident highlights the government’s strained relationship with social media, which has become a rare avenue for sharing otherwise restricted information.
Equatorial Guinea has a history of curtailing online communication during times of unrest, such as the internet shutdown following protests in July.
For activists like Nsang Christia Esimi Cruz, a London-based Equatoguinean rights advocate, this scandal is just another opportunity for the regime to tighten control over social media and public discourse, concealing the nation’s deeper issues.
To some observers, the scandal is emblematic of a much larger problem within Equatorial Guinea’s ruling elite.
While the intimate nature of the scandal has garnered attention, Cruz points out that it merely underscores the corruption and moral decay among the country’s powerful.
“This sex scandal for us is just a symptom of the illness, it’s not the illness itself,” he explained, noting how the elite’s excesses contrast starkly with the widespread poverty that affects most citizens.
President Obiang’s decades-long rule has been characterized by economic boom and bust, human rights abuses, and scandal, with the administration repeatedly criticized for arbitrary killings, torture, and corruption.
While regular elections take place, political opposition is virtually non-existent, with potential challengers exiled or jailed.
This environment of secrecy and intrigue has led to a culture where private lives are fair game in political warfare, with videos and allegations often used to silence rivals.
For Equatorial Guinea’s citizens, this scandal is both a moment of fascination and frustration, highlighting the disparity between the ruling elite and the population’s everyday struggles.
While political intrigue might continue to dominate the headlines, many are left hoping for genuine reforms that will address the nation’s deeply rooted issues rather than more sensational distractions.
