The High Court of Malabo has opened a high-profile trial closely followed by citizens and analysts. The defendant is Baltasar Ebang Engonga, also known as Bello, son of Baltasar Engonga Edjo’o, President of the Economic and Monetary Community of Central Africa (CEMAC), and cousin of President Teodoro Obiang Nguema.
Baltasar, formerly the Director-General of the National Agency for Financial Investigation (ANIF), has been detained for 10 months at Black Beach Prison. He is charged with:
Embezzlement of public funds
Concealing the origins of illicit wealth
Abuse of power for personal gain
The Prosecution is seeking 18 years in prison, broken down as follows:
8 years for embezzlement
6 years and 1 day for abuse of power
4 years and 5 months for unlawful enrichment
They are also requesting a fine of 910 million CFA francs, and a lifetime ban from holding any public office.
In November 2024, before the embezzlement file reached court, a major scandal erupted when over 400 leaked videos emerged showing Baltasar in sexually explicit acts with multiple women, some reportedly related to high-ranking government officials.
These videos went viral on social media, transforming a corruption case into a sensational sex scandal, sparking public debates about political morality, leadership conduct, and the possible use of fabricated scandals for political warfare.
Sources suggest the leaks may have been orchestrated by allies of Vice President Teodoro Nguema Obiang Mangue to damage the Engonga family amid succession tensions.
The trial follows an investigation launched in March 2024 after a complaint by the Government of Equatorial Guinea. Prosecutors allege that large sums of public money were funneled into secret Cayman Islands accounts under Baltasar’s control.
The case involves multiple powerful figures, including Carmelo Julio Matogo Ndong and Florentina Iganga Iñandji. The trial is being held behind closed doors, under heavy security, but details are still leaking.
Baltasar’s defense claims the trial is politically motivated and criticizes the prosecution’s weak evidence. There are also reports that Engonga has faced abuse in custody, allegedly by members of the presidential security unit, including General Jesús Edu Moto.
Analysts warn that the court’s ruling could seriously impact Equatorial Guinea’s global image, especially regarding its anti-corruption commitments and the rule of law.
