Equatorial Guinea’s Vice-President Warns Against Workplace Sexual Activity Following Video Leaks

Government employees found engaging in sexual acts within their offices will face “severe measures,” Equatorial Guinea’s vice-president has cautioned. This warning comes after hundreds of videos, described as allegedly pornographic, were disseminated publicly. Reports indicate that these videos feature Baltasar Ebang Engonga, a high-ranking civil servant, involved in sexual encounters with various women, including the spouses of prominent officials, inside his office. Mr. Engonga serves as the head of the nation’s National Financial Investigation Agency and is also a relative of the country’s president. He has not yet issued a statement. Vice-President Teodoro Obiang Mangue declared that any officials discovered participating in sexual acts at their workplace would be suspended, labeling such conduct a “flagrant violation of the code of conduct.” He has also mandated the installation of surveillance cameras in courts and ministries to combat “indecent and illicit acts.” A statement from the vice-president’s office indicated that this decision was made in response to the widely circulated videos, which had “denigrated the image of the country.” It further noted his recommendation to initiate an investigation. State television TVGE reported that the videos in question were leaked after Mr. Engonga’s arrest on unrelated corruption charges. Last week, Vice-President Obiang commented that “pornographic videos” had been “flooding” social media and instructed telecommunications companies to restrict their spread. Since then, the flow of internet traffic, particularly the downloading of images, has been significantly disrupted in the country, according to individuals in Equatorial Guinea who spoke to the AFP news agency. In his role as head of the National Financial Investigation Agency, Mr. Engonga is responsible for addressing financial crimes such as money laundering. Following the controversy surrounding the videos, Anatolio Nzang Nguema, Equatorial Guinea’s chief prosecutor, informed state television that if Mr. Engonga were found to have been “infected with a sexually transmitted disease,” he would be prosecuted for an offense against “public health.” He is reportedly known by the nickname “Bello,” which is Spanish for beautiful, owing to his attractive appearance. For additional news from the African continent, visit BBCAfrica.com. Follow updates on Twitter via @BBCAfrica, on Facebook at BBC Africa, or on Instagram at bbcafrica. Copyright 2024 BBC. All rights reserved. The BBC disclaims responsibility for the material on external websites. Details regarding our policy on external linking are available.