Equatorial Guinea Braces for Over 400 Divorce Cases Amid Government Sex Tape Scandal

Equatorial Guinea is facing a potential wave of more than 400 divorce cases following the leak of hundreds of pornographic videos reportedly filmed by civil servants in government offices.

The scandal, which has shocked the nation, centers around videos shot in the office of Baltasar Ebang Engonga, a senior government official.

The country’s vice president, Teodoro Nguema Obiang Mangue, took to X (formerly Twitter) on Monday to condemn the conduct, declaring the government would “immediately suspend all civil servants who have had sexual relations in the offices of the ministries, as this constitutes a flagrant violation of the code of conduct and the law on public ethics.”

The scandal highlights ongoing challenges in regulating civil servant behavior and maintaining public trust amid accusations of widespread misconduct.

This is not the first time Equatorial Guinea has witnessed leaks involving explicit videos of public officials.

However, this scandal has reached unprecedented levels due to the high-profile nature of those involved.

Reports indicate that numerous civil servants may have been implicated, with videos widely shared across social media.

Vice President Obiang had previously issued a stern warning to the country’s telecommunications ministry, regulatory authorities, and telecom companies, instructing them to restrict the spread of the videos.

He gave the entities 24 hours to halt the distribution of pornographic content on social media platforms in Equatorial Guinea, in an effort to curb the scandal’s fallout.

Beyond the professional ramifications, the scandal is expected to have a major social impact, with hundreds of divorce cases reportedly set to be filed in the coming days.

The scandal has cast a harsh spotlight on the country’s public sector, raising questions about the enforcement of ethical standards among government employees and leaving the nation grappling with the implications of the widespread breach of public trust.