Equatorial Guinea has suspended all officials who had sexual relations in the offices of ministries.

Announcing the decision on Monday via X, Teodoro Nguema, Equatorial Guinea’s vice-president, said the government would take “severe measures” against such acts.

“Today, we will proceed with the immediate suspension of all officials who have had sexual relations in the offices of the country’s ministries,” the statement reads.

“The Government will take severe measures against these acts, since it constitutes a flagrant violation of the Code of Conduct and the Public Ethics Law.

“This action is a decisive step in our policy of zero tolerance towards behaviors that undermine the integrity of the public service.

“Ethics and respect are fundamental in our administration, and we will not allow irresponsible behavior to compromise public trust.

“Responsibility and professionalism must be the pillars of our work as servants of the State.”

In a follow up post on Tuesday, the vice-president said the government would soon install surveillance cameras in all government offices.

“We have taken this measure to ensure compliance with the law on public officials and to eradicate improper and illicit behaviour,” he said.

“We will not admit any fault that denigrates the integrity of our administration and those who engage in these practices will face drastic measures.”

BACKGROUND

The Central African nation has been embroiled in a sex scandal since officials searched the home and office of Baltasar Ebang Engonga as part of an investigation into alleged fraud.

Engonga is director general of the country’s Anti-graft National Agency for Financial Investigation (ANIF).

Investigators reportedly uncovered about 400 explicit videos purportedly featuring the ANIF boss and multiple women.

Among the discoveries were sex tapes of Engonga seemingly having romps with his brother’s wife, his cousin, the sister of the president of Equatorial Guinea, the wife of the director general of police, and about 20 wives of ministers, among others.

The now viral videos were filmed in his office, hotels, and toilets — allegedly with the consent of participants.

Human Rights Radio and Television, an Abuja-based media organisation, says it has partially shut down operations to protest the treatment of minors involved in the #EndBadGovernance demonstrations.

The media organisation disclosed news of the partial shutdown in a statement released on X on Monday.

On Friday, the police arraigned 76 suspects, some of whom were minors, over their alleged roles in the #EndBadGovernance protests in August.

The charges levied against them include terrorism, arson, and treasonable felony.

At least four of the minors, however, collapsed at the court session.

The defendants, who looked ill and malnourished, were later granted N10 million bail each.

The trial, along with news that the defendants had been detained for 90 days prior to arraignment, has drawn widespread criticisms from the civil society.

Also reacting, the broadcast establishment called for the unconditional release of the children, and reiterated its stance on solidarity with the voiceless “until justice is served”.

“Human Rights Radio and Television (Brekete Family) shuts down partially in protest of the Nigerian government’s detention of underage children,” the statement reads.

“This decision reflects our deep commitment to defending the rights of the vulnerable and holding authorities accountable.

“We call on all well-meaning Nigerians and international bodies to join us in demanding the immediate and unconditional release of these children. Until justice is served, we stand firm in solidarity with the voiceless.”

Baltasar Ebang Engonga, a top official of the Equatorial Guinean government, is embroiled in a massive sex scandal.

According to Real Equatorial Guinea, the scandal was uncovered when officials searched the house and office of Engonga, the embattled director general of Equatorial Guinea’s Anti-graft National Agency for Financial Investigation (ANIF) as part of a fraud investigation.

The country’s authorities were said to have discovered about 400 explicit videos allegedly featuring him and numerous women.

The footage, discovered in his office, reportedly included sex tapes involving prominent persons, such as his brother’s wife, his cousin, the sister of the president of Equatorial Guinea, the director general of police’s wife, and about 20 of the country’s ministers’ wives, among others.

The videos, now widely circulated on social media, were filmed in his office, hotels, and toilets, with all scenes being recorded with the participant’s consent.

https://twitter.com/teonguema/status/1853095431263400274?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1853095431263400274%7Ctwgr%5E263b65fdc2c9d6ea58be763a4c3d6bf704ef0cd3%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Flifestyle.thecable.ng%2Fequatorial-guinean-anti-graft-boss-engonga-enmeshed-in-400-video-sex-scandal%2F

Addressing the scandal via X, Teodoro Nquema, Equatorial Guinea’s vice president, emphasized that sexual relations in administrative workplaces are strictly prohibited.

He warned that anyone violating the rule will face disciplinary actions, including dismissal from their job.

“Given the abuse that has been shown on social media in Equatorial Guinea in recent days, and remembering that ministries are solely and exclusively for carrying out administrative work in support of the country’s development, sexual relations in offices are prohibited,” he wrote.

“Control mechanisms are already in place, and anyone who violates this rule again will be subject to disciplinary proceedings for indecent conduct and will be dismissed from their job.”

Engonga is the son of Baltasar Engonga Edjoo, the current president of the Economic and Monetary Community of Central Africa (CEMAC).

His role in ANIF includes overseeing financial investigations and managing activities aimed at curbing financial corruption in the country.

The 54-year-old government official is married with six children.