Teodoro Nguema Obiang Mangue, the Vice-President of Equatorial Guinea, has vowed to take “severe measures” against officials caught engaging in sexual activities within government offices following the leak of viral “sex tapes” allegedly involving a high-ranking civil servant and the wives of prominent individuals.
On his social media platform on Monday, Mangue announced that all officials found engaging in such behavior would face immediate suspension. This action, he emphasized, is part of upholding the nation’s code of conduct and public ethics laws.
The tapes reportedly surfaced after the arrest of Baltasar Engonga, Director General of the National Financial Investigation Agency, on unrelated corruption charges. In response, Mangue directed regulators and internet service providers to block further distribution of the videos. According to the Attorney General, although the acts were consensual, Engonga could face prosecution for “public health crimes” if he had a sexually transmitted infection.
“This action is a decisive step in our zero-tolerance policy for behavior that undermines public service integrity,” Mangue stated, stressing that ethics and professionalism are essential in government roles. He further reiterated that government officials must prioritize their duties and not engage in inappropriate conduct within office premises.
Mangue has also instructed the installation of surveillance cameras across state offices, reinforcing the government’s stance against unethical behavior. Additionally, any official caught violating these standards will face severe consequences, including disciplinary proceedings and potential dismissal.
Baltasar Engonga, the central figure in the scandal, has a long-standing career in Equatorial Guinea’s government, beginning in 1998 as Minister of Education. He is the son of Baltasar Engonga Edjoo, President of the Economic and Monetary Community of Central Africa (CEMAC). Engonga is currently detained under allegations of embezzling 1,223 million CFA francs, with authorities seizing assets during the investigation.
