Ex-ANIF Boss Baltasar Engonga Jailed 18 Years for Embezzlement
Baltasar Ebang Engonga, the former Director General of Equatorial Guinea's National Financial Investigation Agency (ANIF), has been sentenced to 18 years in prison after being found guilty of embezzling public funds. The charges against him include embezzlement, illicit enrichment, and abuse of office, which together led to a hefty prison term and a fine exceeding 910 million CFA francs. Additionally, he has been permanently banned from holding any public office in the country. Authorities revealed that the misappropriated funds were used to support a lavish lifestyle, drawing significant public outrage.
The case attracted even more attention after investigators uncovered hundreds of explicit videos involving Engonga and various women—some reportedly linked to powerful figures in government. These findings, discovered during anti-corruption operations, amplified the scandal and stirred public debate across the region. While some view the prosecution as a long-overdue step in tackling corruption, others suggest it may be part of a broader political reshuffling within the ruling elite.
