A court in Equatorial Guinea sentenced a former top official to prison for corruption, exposing deep-rooted abuses of power in the country.
A court in Equatorial Guinea has sentenced former senior official Baltasar Ebang Engonga to eight years in prison for corruption, capping a case that drew international attention after explicit videos filmed inside government buildings went viral online.
The Provincial Court of Bioko found Engonga guilty of opening irregular bank accounts to divert public funds and use them as his personal cash reserve. Judges also ordered him to pay a fine of 125,405,700 CFA francs, roughly €200,000.
Authorities removed Engonga from his post as director general of the National Financial Investigation Agency (ANIF) on 25 October 2024. He has remained in pretrial detention at Black Beach prison in Malabo, a facility frequently criticized by human rights groups for alleged abuse and harsh conditions.
Five other officials received prison sentences ranging from three to eight years, along with multi-million CFA franc fines.
One defendant was acquitted of all charges. Prosecutors accused the group of embezzlement of public funds, illicit enrichment, abuse of power and misappropriation.
According to local outlet AhoraEG, the misappropriated amounts ranged from 5 million to 125 million CFA francs per individual. In several cases, the funds were allegedly disguised as state-funded travel expenses and official allowances.
Engonga became a national sensation in late 2024 after more than 150 sexually explicit videos surfaced on social media.
The footage showed him having sex in his government office, public bathrooms and hotel rooms in Equatorial Guinea and abroad. Some of the women involved were reportedly married to senior civilian and military officials.
Scandal prompted Vice President Teodoro Nguema Obiang to announce measures aimed at safeguarding the country’s image, including suspending officials caught engaging in sexual activity in government offices and installing surveillance cameras in ministerial buildings.
The conviction has once again highlighted concerns over governance in Equatorial Guinea, a country long ranked by watchdog groups among the world’s most corrupt and repressive states.
President Teodoro Obiang, now 83, has ruled since 1979 after seizing power in a coup and remains the world’s longest-serving head of state.
The case underscores how corruption and abuse of public office continue to shape political life in Equatorial Guinea, even as authorities seek to project an image of accountability and reform.
