What initially seemed like a mere scandal involving explicit videos has unfolded into a deeper political drama in Equatorial Guinea, centered around the succession of the nation’s presidency. Over the past two weeks, social media platforms have been flooded with videos—ranging from 150 to more than 400—showing a high-ranking official engaging in sexual activities with various women, reportedly including wives and close relatives of those within the country's political elite. The videos, which feature Baltasar Ebang Mr. Engonga, nephew of President Teodoro Obiang Nguema, have sparked significant public outrage, both domestically and internationally.
VIDEOS; https://t.me/gistlovers
Mr. Engonga, also known as "Bello" for his reputed good looks, held a prominent position as the head of the National Financial Investigation Agency, overseeing cases of financial misconduct. His arrest on October 25 for alleged embezzlement and his subsequent detention at the infamous Black Beach prison marked the beginning of a chain of events that has shaken the nation’s political establishment. During his detention, his phones and computers were confiscated, and shortly after, the explicit videos began circulating widely on platforms such as Telegram and WhatsApp. The nature of the scandal has led many to speculate that this was a deliberate move to discredit Mr. Engonga, who was among those rumored to be positioning himself as a successor to his uncle, the 82-year-old President Obiang.
The scandal’s political undertones cannot be overlooked, as it appears to play into the ongoing power struggle within the Obiang family. President Obiang, who has ruled since 1979, is the world’s longest-serving head of state. His extended tenure has seen the country’s economy fluctuate drastically due to oil dependency, creating a small circle of wealthy elites while the majority of the population remains impoverished. The political environment has been tightly controlled, with no real opposition permitted and frequent reports of human rights abuses. In such a setting, palace intrigues and internal rivalries have become the norm, especially regarding succession.
Observers have noted the involvement of Vice President Teodoro Obiang Mangue—also the president’s son—who has taken an active role in managing the fallout from this scandal. Known for his own controversial lifestyle, Mangue recently gave telecom companies 24 hours to curb the spread of these explicit clips, stressing the importance of family unity and public decency. Mangue’s quick response reflects his intent to assert his authority and perhaps eliminate any challengers to his anticipated ascent to the presidency, as he faces potential opposition not only from Mr. Engonga but also from other powerful figures, including his half-brother Gabriel Obiang Lima, former oil minister.
This scandal is believed to have exposed the deep-rooted corruption and moral decay within the upper echelons of Equatorial Guinea’s elite. Activists argue that beyond the salacious details, this incident highlights the darker realities of the nation’s ruling class. Nsang Christia Esimi Cruz, an activist now based in London, has pointed out that the scandal is symptomatic of the larger corruption and authoritarian grip the regime holds. He suggests that the scandal could be a pretext for further restricting social media, one of the few means by which information on Equatorial Guinea’s internal politics reaches the outside world.
Despite the vice president’s attempt to contain the scandal by proposing CCTV cameras in government offices and suspensions for officials caught engaging in such behavior, the videos continue to circulate. The scandal’s global interest has surged, with Equatorial Guinea becoming a top-trending search term across Africa. Observers believe that this intense public scrutiny could cast a lasting shadow over the Obiang family’s legacy, underscoring the country’s pressing need for transparency and reform amid these revelations of a fractured ruling elite.
