EQUATORIAL GUINEA OFFICIAL TAKEN INTO CUSTODY FOR 400 SEX TAPES INVOLVING WIVES AND SISTERS OF PROMINENT FIGURES

AFRICA NEWS

4 November 2024

By Oyenike

EQUATORIAL GUINEA OFFICIAL TAKEN INTO CUSTODY FOR 400 SEX TAPES INVOLVING WIVES AND SISTERS OF PROMINENT FIGURES

Baltasar Engonga, the Director General of the National Financial Investigation Agency (ANIF) in Equatorial Guinea, has been detained for allegedly recording over 400 explicit videos involving the wives of prominent figures in the nation.

This scandal surfaced during a fraud investigation into the 54-year-old economist, leading to a surprise search of his residence and office by ANIF officials, who discovered multiple CDs revealing his sexual encounters with various married women.

The footage allegedly includes interactions with several high-profile individuals, such as his brother’s spouse, a cousin, the sister of the President, the wife of the Director General of Police, and around 20 wives of ministers in the country. The videos, found in his personal office, were said to have been recorded with consent and have since leaked online, sparking significant media attention.

According to Ahora EG, a local media outlet, Engonga has been embroiled in an unprecedented sexual scandal since last October. The former ANIF director, known as “Bello,” engaged in sexual relations with numerous women, some of whom were married, and filmed these private moments.

The report highlighted that some of the recordings took place in his office, including scenes where he was filmed with a woman next to the National Flag. In response to this scandal, the government has announced measures aimed at addressing the actions that have tarnished the country’s image, hoping to set a clear standard for the expected behaviour of public officials and foster a more respectful work environment in both public and private sectors.

___________________________________________

ANGER IN NIGERIA AS TEENAGE SUSPECTS FAINT IN COURT

Many alleged protesters were brought before a Nigerian court on Friday, sparking outrage as numerous individuals appeared malnourished after being detained for two months. Four young individuals, arrested during significant anti-government protests in August, collapsed in the courtroom, experiencing severe pain before being taken for medical assistance.

Human rights advocates criticised the legal system, noting that at least one-third of those appearing for the initial hearing were minors aged 14 to 18. All 76 defendants denied charges of treason, felony, and inciting mutiny, with activists stating they had been held since August when protests erupted over a worsening cost-of-living crisis.

The protests turned violent in some areas, resulting in clashes with security forces. Police reported at least seven fatalities, while human rights organisations claimed the death toll reached 23, alongside nearly 700 arrests.

In reaction to the intense court session held in Abuja, Amnesty International declared that subjecting minors to such dreadful detentions for protesting against hunger and corruption is one of the most severe attempts to stifle freedom of assembly.

The Nigerian organisation Enough is Enough described the situation as “institutional child abuse,” demanding the release of the teenagers, asserting they belong in school, not jail. Some court attendees faced charges for displaying Russian flags during the protests, with videos showing a few calling on President Vladimir Putin for assistance.

Many alleged protesters were brought before a Nigerian court on Friday

________________________________________________

SOUTH AFRICAN RAND RISES AS MARKETS PREPARE FOR U.S. ELECTION AND INTEREST RATE ANNOUNCEMENT

South Africa’s rand strengthened in early trading on Monday as the dollar weakened, with investors preparing for the upcoming U.S. presidential election and the Federal Reserve’s interest rate announcement this week. As of 0613 GMT, the rand was valued at 17.5250 against the U.S. dollar, reflecting a 0.8% increase from its last close. Meanwhile, the dollar was approximately 0.2% lower against a range of currencies.

The U.S. presidential election on 5 November is the week’s key event, overshadowing the Federal Reserve’s interest rate decision scheduled for two days later. According to Jee-A van der Linde, senior economist at Oxford Economics, opinion polls show Republican candidate Donald Trump and Democratic candidate Kamala Harris nearly neck and neck as the nation approaches the polls on Tuesday.

On Thursday, market participants will focus on the Fed’s upcoming rate decision, with expectations for a 25-basis-point cut. Van der Linde noted that these events will significantly influence the financial markets.

In early trading, South Africa’s benchmark 2030 government bond remained stable, with a yield of 9.32%.

____________________________________________

NIGERIA PLACES FIFTH IN THE WORLD FOR DAILY SOCIAL MEDIA USAGE

Nigerians are among the highest social media users globally, ranking fifth in 2024 for average daily online time. According to data from We Are Social and Cable UK Co, shared by World of Statistics, Nigerians spend about 3 hours and 23 minutes daily on social media. Kenya leads with 3 hours and 43 minutes, followed by South Africa at 3 hours and 37 minutes, Brazil at 3 hours and 34 minutes, and the Philippines at 3 hours and 33 minutes.

Nigeria’s daily average places it just after these nations in social media activity. Other countries with significant usage include Colombia (3:22), Chile (3:11), and Indonesia (3:11). Saudi Arabia and Argentina complete the top ten with averages of 3 hours and 10 minutes and 3 hours and 8 minutes, respectively.

In contrast, some countries show lower engagement, such as Ghana with 2 hours and 43 minutes, Egypt at 2 hours and 41 minutes, and Thailand at 2 hours and 30 minutes.

Among European countries, Portugal (2:23), Romania (2:20), and Italy (2:17) rank lower, reflecting the regional differences in social media usage patterns.

Social media platforms logos

________________________________________________

CHAD WARNED OF POSSIBLE WITHDRAWAL FROM MULTINATIONAL SECURITY FORCE

President Mahamat Idriss Deby, the interim president of Chad, has threatened to pull the country out of a multinational security force, claiming it has failed to address insurgent threats in the Lake Chad area. During a visit to the region, which includes parts of Chad, Nigeria, Niger, and Cameroon, Deby mentioned the recent deaths of around 40 Chadian soldiers in an attack by suspected Boko Haram militants.

He announced plans for a military operation against these attackers while considering withdrawing from the Multinational Joint Task Force (MNJTF), which consists of troops from neighbouring nations. The joint force has faced challenges due to internal divisions and insufficient cooperation.

Deby emphasised that Chad’s departure would significantly impact the task force, as its military is highly regarded in the region. He expressed concerns about the lack of collaborative efforts against a common adversary, stating that the force seems to be ineffective despite its initial purpose of sharing resources and intelligence.

The Lake Chad region has experienced ongoing violence from various insurgent groups, including Islamic State militants in West Africa and Boko Haram, which began its campaign in northeast Nigeria in 2009 and has since spread into Chad.

About Author