Equatorial Guinea has implemented a nationwide restriction on WhatsApp users, barring the ability to download and share multimedia files via mobile data, following a scandal involving Baltasar Engonga, the country’s Director General of the National Financial Investigation Agency (ANIF).
Engonga, a 54-year-old economist, has been implicated in a sex scandal involving the wives of several high-profile officials, including ministers and family members of the president.
The scandal came to light during an investigation into alleged fraud activities against Engonga.
Authorities discovered over 400 explicit videos of Engonga engaging in sexual encounters with the wives of influential individuals, including his brother’s wife, the President’s sister, and several other prominent figures, all of which were recorded in his office. The videos, said to have been filmed with consent, were leaked online, creating a media firestorm.
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In an effort to control the fallout, the Equatorial Guinean government has issued guidelines to telecommunications operators, instructing them to implement measures that restrict access to certain content, particularly multimedia shared via mobile data on WhatsApp.
The move has been met with widespread frustration, as citizens now rely exclusively on Wi-Fi to send photos, videos, and audio files, significantly affecting communication and daily activities.
A local news outlet, Ahora EG, reported that many citizens are questioning the fairness of the decision, which has severely limited their access to communication tools. “Should an entire country pay for the actions of a few?” one anonymous source lamented.
Many have expressed concerns that the restriction undermines the country’s digital economy and hampers work and educational activities, where mobile data sharing is often essential.
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“The decision seems punitive and disproportionate,” another source told Ahora EG. “There is no clear explanation from the authorities, and people are frustrated that their freedom of communication is being compromised without transparency.”
This development follows an announcement by Vice President Teddy Nguema, who revealed plans to install surveillance cameras in all government offices.
