How Equatorial Guinea sex tape leak is fuelling anti-women narrative as victims include President's sister, wives of officials

After the people of the United States elected Donald Trump as their new President, the world leaders rallied to wish their warm regards to the 47th POTUS. Meanwhile, Equatorial Guinea, a largely inconsequential Central African country remains among 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 establishments while citizens face issues with their internet download speed. 

At the heart of it all is Baltasar Ebang Engonga the Director General of Equatorial Guinea's National Financial Investigation Agency (ANIF). He single-handedly brought the attention of netizens across the world to his country amidst the US Elections 2024. According to reports, the official facing corruption charges was found in possession of over 400 sex tapes, reportedly many consensual. The women found sharing bed with Baltasar Ebang Engonga reportedly included the sister of the President of the country and wives of several highly-placed government officials and his colleagues.

Equatorial Guinea sex tapes scandal

The fact that the sex tapes were leaked online at a time Engonga was facing serious corruption charges has raised suspicions. The fact that he stored as many as 400 private videos clearly meant it was recorded on purpose. Engonga purposefully leaked his private moments with women of national importance to distract the public from the ongoing probe against him, many argued.

The sex tapes were leaked online shortly after the ANIF DG was placed under detention over 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 serious backlash online after the videos went viral on the internet, reports said. Taking action, the government has ordered telecom companies to take necessary action to curb the spread of the said sex tapes. Equatorial Guinea is also experiencing a serious fall in the download speed since the leak got national attention, news agency AFP quoted people as saying.

Quickly switching to damage control mode, the government ordered a probe into the “office activities” of Engonga along with his financial ones. Engonga could face prosecution for endangering public health in the backdrop of maintaining sexual relationships with so many women, the media reports said. On Tuesday, the installation of surveillance cameras began on a war footing at Equatorial Guinea's government offices, they added.

Who is Baltasar Engonga?

Baltasar Ebang Engonga, 54, is a member of the politically powerful family of Equatorial Guinea to which incumbent President Teodoro Obiang belongs. Son of the president of the Economic and Monetary Community of Central Africa (CEMAC) Baltasar Engonga Edj'oo, Engonga started his political career in 1998 when he became minister for education, BBC said. He is married and has six children.

Among his victims include his sister-in-law, a cousin, and even the President’s sister, reports said. Spouses of several civil servants of the country were among the victims of the video leak. While some of the videos looked consensual, an investigation is on to confirm if it involved rape or intimidation. It is also being probed whether any woman has reached the authorities with an official complaint of sexual assault against him so far, African media reports added.

Victim blaming in full throttle

Meanwhile, the development has given the already existing sexist narratives a boost on the internet. "The fact that the Equatorial Guinea officer was able to sleep with 6 out of the 8 female workers in his office is exactly why I will never wife up a career woman. I strongly believe that A woman’s money should always come from her man," one user wrote on the backdrop of the development.

Blaming women for what happened, another user wrote on X, "A man cheated on his wife with 400 women. In other words 400 women cheated on their husbands.

It was just a man that cheated on his wife Vs 400 women that cheated on their Husbands You sef reason this matter. FEAR WOMEN." 

Most other posts were either graphic or carried photos of multiple photos claiming to be that of the victims and thus unfit for amplifying.