Equatorial Guinea clamps down on WhatsApp, suspends officials and rolls out CCTV after scanda
The Government of Equatorial Guinea has imposed restrictions on its citizens, preventing them from downloading and sharing multimedia files on WhatsApp using mobile data. This follows government orders to telecommunications companies to control access to inappropriate content.
The government has also suspended civil servants caught engaging in sexual activities within ministry buildings. Additionally, surveillance cameras have been installed across all government offices.
These measures come after multiple sex tapes involving a prominent Equatorial Guinean official surfaced on social media. The videos show Baltasar Ebang Engonga, the director of the National Financial Investigation Agency (ANIF), in intimate encounters with various partners, including wives of high-profile officials, within his ministry office.
Vice President Teodoro Nguema Obiang Mangue announced on Monday via X (formerly Twitter) that civil servants involved in such misconduct in ministry offices would be immediately suspended, citing violations of the public conduct code and ethics laws.
This isn’t the first instance of such scandals involving officials in Equatorial Guinea. However, the involvement of high-ranking figures has intensified public interest. Last week, Obiang gave telecommunications regulators and providers 24 hours to halt the spread of explicit videos on social media, emphasizing the government’s commitment to protecting families from such incidents.
Social media reports suggest Engonga, nicknamed “Bello” due to his reputed looks, recorded over 400 videos in his office. Engonga is a married father and son of a notable official, Baltasar Engonga Edjo, the chairman of the Central African Economic and Monetary Community’s commission, and is related to the country’s long-standing president. At the time of the leak, Engonga was detained at Malabo’s Black Beach prison for alleged embezzlement of public funds. Equatorial Guinea’s chief prosecutor, Anatolio Nzang Nguema, stated that if Engonga is found to have a sexually transmitted disease, he could face additional charges for endangering public health.
Witnesses report that the government’s actions have severely affected internet speeds, especially for downloading images. Meanwhile, rumors circulate that more compromising videos involving other officials may soon emerge. On Tuesday, Vice President Obiang reiterated plans to install surveillance cameras in government offices to ensure officials abide by public conduct laws and to curb illicit behavior.
