Baltasar Engonga Video Scandal: Equatorial Guinea's First Lady Laments Effects on Women's Dignity
- Equatorial Guinea's First Lady Constancia Mangue Obiang is upset by the video scandal allegedly involving Baltasar Engonga
- Engonga is reported to have had affairs with many women and recorded them, leading to private videos being leaked online
- In a meeting with the country's Prime Minister, Mrs Obiang urged the government to tackle the issue to restore women's dignity
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Equatorial Guinea's First Lady, Constancia Mangue Obiang, is concerned about how the 400 videos scandal has already affected women's dignity.
Baltasar Ebang Engonga, the former Director General of the National Financial Investigation Agency (ANIF), is allegedly at the centre of the scandal.
He reportedly had affairs with numerous women, including wives and relatives of prominent figures, with footage of the alleged affairs leaked online.
Source: Facebook
It is also alleged that CDs with recordings of these affairs were discovered during a fraud investigation into Engonga. These tapes were later leaked and went viral on social media and other platforms.
First Lady abhors adult video scandal
During a meeting with Prime Minister Manuel Osa Nsue, the First Lady voiced her anger over the incident, saying it had done nothing but distort and denigrate the image of the Equatoguinean women.
In a statement on her Facebook page on November 7, 2024, she called for immediate government intervention to help uphold the dignity of the country's women and protect their privacy in the digital age.
Mrs Obiang said that while the government has made strides in advancing gender equality in the country, proactive measures were essential to ensure a safe and respectful environment for all women.
Prime Minister Osa Nsue acknowledged the scandal's significant impact and emphasised the importance of implementing measures to safeguard individual privacy and the nation's public image.
He said the government was considering stricter privacy laws as it grapples with the scandal's effect on the country's public image and gender equality initiatives, with WhatsApp media reportedly already being gagged.
"The Government of Equatorial Guinea, aware of the impact of social media and the growing presence of private content on digital platforms, is also considering strengthening laws related to privacy and personal data protection to prevent further violations of citizens' rights," Nsue said.
The Prime Minister recognised the broader discussion sparked by the Engonga case regarding the boundaries of privacy in the digital age and the role of institutions in protecting individuals' fundamental rights.
"In this regard, the government emphasised the need for a comprehensive approach combining legislation, education, and social awareness to curb the proliferation of inappropriate online content," he added.
The First Lady's statement about the so-called 400 video scandal followed a report by Real Equatorial Guinea stating that Engonga had been relieved of his position at the National Financial Investigation Agency (ANIF).
His alleged sacking was preceded by a directive from Vice President Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mangue to suspend any officials involved in the scandal and take steps to stop further sharing of the videos.
Women alleges Engonga filmed her without consent
YEN.com.gh also reported that one of the women allegedly captured in the videos has gone to the police over the matter.
The woman is said to have admitted to being involved with Engonga but claimed she had not consented to being filmed in the act.
Proofread by Bruce Douglas, senior copy editor at YEN.com.gh
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Source: YEN.com.gh
