What seems like a sex tape scandal in Equatorial Guinea might actually be a fight for power over who will become the next president, according to the BBC.
In the past two weeks, hundreds of leaked videos have appeared online showing a top government official, Baltasar Ebang Mr. Engonga, having sex in his office and other places with several women, including wives and relatives of powerful people. Some women may have known they were being filmed, but others did not.
This scandal is shocking for people in the small Central African country, but in Equatorial Guinea, there’s no free press, making it hard to verify details. The BBC explains that these videos could be a strategy to ruin Mr. Engonga’s reputation, especially since he is a nephew of President Teodoro Obiang Nguema and was seen as a possible successor.
President Obiang, now 82, has ruled since 1979, making him the world’s longest-serving leader. While his government once thrived on oil wealth, much of the population now lives in poverty. Obiang’s administration has faced global criticism for human rights abuses and corruption, as reported by the BBC.
The leaked videos emerged after Mr. Engonga was arrested on accusations of stealing government money and hiding it in secret bank accounts. His phones and computers were confiscated, and soon after, the sex tapes started spreading on platforms like Telegram and WhatsApp, reaching audiences worldwide.
The vice president, Teodoro Obiang Mangue, who is also the president’s son, condemned the leaks and ordered telecom companies to stop their spread. He said the videos were tearing families apart and pledged to investigate who leaked them. However, BBC suggests some people think the leaks came from security forces who seized Mr. Engonga’s devices.
The BBC adds that politics in Equatorial Guinea is often about internal power struggles. Activists like Nsang Christia Esimi Cruz believe the vice president is trying to get rid of political rivals who might challenge him for the presidency, including Mr. Engonga.
This scandal has also revealed deeper issues within the country’s elite. BBC notes that the country’s leaders have been involved in past scandals, like corruption, lavish spending, and coup attempts. Activists say the sex tapes are just another example of the corrupt system.
While the scandal dominates headlines and social media, Mr. Cruz told the BBC that it distracts from the real issues, like poverty, lack of freedoms, and the misuse of power in Equatorial Guinea.
Credit : BBC
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cr4ledr19nyo