Equatorial Guinea’s Director General of the National Financial Investigation Agency, Baltasar Engonga, has been arrested following allegations of recording over 400 explicit videos involving the wives of prominent figures in the country.

The scandal surfaced during a fraud investigation targeting the 54-year-old economist, leading ANIF officials to conduct an unannounced search of his home and office, where they discovered numerous CDs revealing his involvement with various married women.

Among those reportedly featured in the footage are high-profile individuals, including the President’s sister, the Director General of Police’s wife, and wives of about 20 ministers, along with Engonga’s own relatives. Although authorities stated that the encounters appeared consensual, the videos have since been leaked online, creating a media storm.

Attorney General Nzang Nguema emphasized that consensual relations are not criminal under the law unless coercion is involved. However, he encouraged any victims of assault to come forward in a supportive environment.In response, Equatorial Guinea has initiated immediate suspensions for officials engaging in intimate acts within ministry offices, underscoring a “zero tolerance” stance.

Vice President Nguema Mangue declared that such conduct violates the Code of Conduct and Public Ethics Law, stressing that ethics and professionalism must guide all public service behavior.