Nephew of Equatorial Guinea’s President Teodoro Obiang Nguema, Baltasar Ebang Engonga, has been sentenced to eight years in prison for embezzlement, marking the latest twist in a scandal that has rocked the ruling elite.
A court in Malabo ruled that Engonga, the former head of the National Financial Investigation Agency, diverted large sums of public money into secret accounts in the Cayman Islands. Alongside five other officials, he was found guilty of illegally claiming travel allowances ranging from $9,000 to $220,000.
Nicknamed “Bello” for his good looks, Engonga shot to infamy in 2024 after dozens of sex tapes featuring him with women, some married to powerful figures within the regime, were leaked online. The videos surfaced while he was in detention, and although their authenticity was never verified, the fact that his seized phones and computers were in state custody led to suspicions of an inside leak aimed at destroying his reputation.
Observers say the scandal and conviction have all but ended any speculation about Engonga’s chances of succeeding his uncle, Africa’s longest-serving leader, who has ruled since 1979 and positioned his son, Vice-President Teodoro Nguema Obiang Mangue, as heir apparent.
Engonga, once tasked with investigating financial crimes, now finds himself on the other side of the law at Malabo’s notorious Black Beach prison. In addition to the prison term, the tribunal fined him $220,000, according to the Supreme Court’s press office.
The case underscores the volatile mix of power, wealth, and scandal in the oil-rich nation, where political succession remains tightly controlled within the president’s family.
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Story by Kelvin B. Annor-Yeboah | univers.ug.edu.gh
