Equatorial Guinea Government Attacks Again, WhatsApp Restricts Baltasar Engonga's 400 Video Scandal

Equatorial Guinea government restricts WhatsApp, banning citizens from downloading and sharing multimedia files via mobile data
Citizens are disappointed with this decision and see it as a punitive measure limiting their communication rights
Plans for security cameras in government offices announced by Vice President Teddy Nguema have further raised privacy concerns

The Government of Equatorial Guinea has imposed restrictions on WhatsApp, prohibiting citizens from downloading and sharing multimedia files using mobile data.

Tough measure comes after a scandal Baltasar EngongaThe Director General of the National Financial Investigation Agency (ANIF) has been embroiled in a row with spouses of VIPs involving more than 400 private videos.

Leaked videos of Baltasar Engonga force Equatorial Guinea government to restrict WhatsApp — Equatorial Guinea government restricts WhatsApp due to Baltasar Engonga’s 400 video scandal. Photo source: Baltasar Ebang Engonga
Source: Instagram

The scandal emerged during a fraud investigation into Engonga; here authorities discovered numerous CDs containing explicit images recorded with consent, including encounters with high-profile individuals such as ministers’ wives and even ministers’ wives. family members of the chairman.

Government’s reaction to Baltasar’s videos

Responding promptly, the government of Equatorial Guinea arrested Engonga on November 4, 2024. Equatorial Guinea media They stated that Engonga was not prosecuted for their relationship because it was consensual, but was investigated for possible transmission of sexually transmitted diseases.

Reacting further to this development via social media platform X on Tuesday, November 5, the country’s Vice President, Teodoro Nguema Mangue, gave the following instruction: camera setup in government offices.

Why did Equatorial Guinea restrict WhatsApp?

The Central African country has reportedly imposed restrictions on WhatsApp as part of measures to combat the scandal.

The decision to restrict WhatsApp access was communicated to telecommunications operators and they were asked to implement measures to limit access to inappropriate content.

Teodoro Nguema stated:

“The Ministry of Transport and New Technologies, the telephone companies, Gitge and Ortel have 24 hours to submit to me a proposal to stop the spread of obscene videos that have been circulating on Equatorial Guinea’s social networks for days. These are married women who participated in and committed acts that humiliate their reputation and dignity “As a government, we cannot continue to watch families being torn apart without taking action. In the meantime, the source of these publications is being investigated to find the author or authors and hold them accountable for their actions.”