Baltasar Ebang Engonga, a high-ranking official in Equatorial Guinea, had the internet abuzz last week after videos allegedly showing him having sex with several women, including the wives of top officials, were leaked online.

Authorities rushed to stop the sharing of the viral videos, but that didn’t stop an outpouring of backlash and memes online, with celebrities including Nigerian singer Davido and French rapper Kaaris.

The videos took off condemnation of women, while Ebang Engonga was praised for his performance – with some even suggesting he deserves an award on a par with the Ballon d’Or, an annual award given to the world’s best soccer player.

The country’s vice president, Teodoro Nguema Obiang Mangue, wrote on X that married women were participating in “acts that degrade their reputation and dignity.”

“In our position as a government, we cannot continue to watch families fall apart without taking any action,” he said.

Who is Baltasar Ebang Engonga?

Before his suspension over the sex scandal, Baltasar Ebang Engonga served as director of the country’s National Financial Investigation Agency (ANIF). He was investigated for alleged corruption and embezzlement of public funds when public investigators came across the videos.

Ebang Engonga was arrested at Malabo’s infamous Black Beach prison on embezzlement charges when the videos were released, according to state media TVGE.

Ebang Engonga, who is also known as ‘Bello’ because of his good looks, is the son of Baltasar Engonga Edjo, the current chairman of the Central African Economic and Monetary Community Commission.

Leaked videos raise the issue of consent

A woman who identifies herself as one of Ebang Engonga’s partners told state media that she “gave consent” for their love affairs to be filmed, but believed the images “were immediately deleted” after viewing them , adding that he felt “humiliated.”

It was not indicated if she was married at the time the video was shot.

Cyrille Rolande Bechon, a lawyer and activist, told DW that the Ebang Engonga case raises the issue of victims’ consent – including consent to be filmed, for the videos to be saved and for how the videos will be used.

“So in human rights we talk more about the issue of informed consent, informed means that he or she has understood the disadvantages and especially what will be done with the recording for which he or she has given consent. she said.

Data protection is required

Bechon said there is a lack of awareness among people about personal data, which is especially crucial when you agree to be filmed by a stranger.

“Furthermore, even when we are filmed by someone we know, we don’t always know how this data can be processed,” she said, adding that since this data is saved on computer devices, which most of we do not control them, personally the data can be copied with one click.

In the case of Ebang Engonga, Bechon said that instead of families being blamed for the actions of the women in these videos, they should lead a legal battle to address the issue and push for laws on data protection, informed consent and the right to control. use of their images.

The government bans sex in offices

A government statement said Equatorial Guinea’s Vice President Teodoro Nguema Obiang Mangue ordered new measures last week to prevent justice and ministry officials from engaging in wrongdoing at work.

The measures included installing security cameras in all offices as well as strengthening security.

“We will proceed with the immediate suspension of all officials who had sexual relations in the offices of the country’s ministries. The government will repress these facts, as they constitute a flagrant violation of the Code of Conduct and the Law of Public Ethics, the immediate suspension of all officials who have had sexual relations in the offices of the country’s ministries will be proceeded with. “, Obiang Mangue also wrote on X.

Obiang Mangue said the action was part of our “zero tolerance policy towards behavior that undermines the integrity of the public service”.

Meanwhile, Equatorial Guinea’s chief prosecutor, Anatolio Nzang Nguema, told local media that if medical examinations revealed that Ebang Engonga was “infected with a sexually transmitted disease”, he would be prosecuted for a crime against “public health “.

Carole Assignon and AFP contributed reporting

Edited by: Keith Walker