The Government of Equatorial Guinea has imposed new restrictions on WhatsApp, limiting citizens’ ability to download and share multimedia files using mobile data.
This move follows a controversial sex scandal involving Baltasar Engonga, the Director General of the National Financial Investigation Agency (ANIF), which has sparked outrage and debate across the country.
According to local reports, the government has instructed telecommunications providers to implement measures that restrict access to inappropriate content, a decision believed to be linked to the scandal. Engonga, a 54-year-old economist, has found himself at the center of a high-profile fraud investigation, during which authorities uncovered hundreds of explicit videos on his office computer.
The footage allegedly depicts Engonga’s sexual encounters with the wives of prominent individuals, including political figures and ministers.
Among the women involved are the wives of his brother, his cousin, the sister of President Teodoro Obiang Nguema, the Director General of Police’s wife, and around 20 other ministers’ wives.
The scandal has caused a media storm, especially after the videos, which were reportedly recorded with consent, leaked online.
The leaked content has sparked public outrage and has raised serious concerns about privacy and governance in the country.
In response to the scandal, the government of Equatorial Guinea has taken drastic steps to limit the dissemination of such content, including the restriction of multimedia file-sharing on WhatsApp over mobile data connections.
Citizens have been forced to rely exclusively on WiFi networks to share photos, videos, and audio, which many have criticised as a disproportionate response that curtails essential communication functions.
Local news platform Ahora EG reported that many users have expressed frustration over the measure, with some questioning the fairness of penalizing the entire population for the actions of a few.
“Should an entire country pay for the actions of a few?” one anonymous source told the platform.
“The likely decision to restrict access to essential communication functions seems disproportionate and punitive, affecting thousands of users who rely on WhatsApp for work, education, and personal communication.”
Another source pointed out the growing dependence on digital platforms in today’s world.
“In a world where digitalisation is becoming more and more important, should we shut down our platforms and paralyse our activities due to the actions of a few?” they added.
The report also noted that the government has yet to clarify the reasons behind the restriction or provide any details on how long the measure will last, further stoking public concern.
The WhatsApp restrictions are not the only significant government action being implemented in response to the scandal.
Earlier this week, Vice President Teddy Nguema announced plans to install surveillance cameras in all state offices as part of a broader initiative to ensure greater accountability and prevent misconduct among public officials.
This measure is seen as part of an ongoing push to tighten control over the public sector, but it has raised concerns about the erosion of privacy and the extent of government oversight.
Citizens have voiced mixed reactions to these new measures. While some support efforts to combat corruption and misconduct, others argue that the government’s heavy-handed approach is more about control than genuine reform.
Many have questioned whether the surveillance measures, along with the WhatsApp restrictions, are designed to suppress dissent and limit the free flow of information.
The restrictions on WhatsApp and the surveillance initiative have triggered heated debates across social media and in the public sphere.
Some view these moves as a necessary response to a damaging scandal that threatens the country’s image, while others see them as an overreach of government power, exacerbating the challenges faced by everyday citizens who depend on digital communication for business and education.
As of now, the government has not issued a clear timeline for how long the restrictions will remain in place or whether further measures will be introduced. The lack of transparency has only deepened public anxiety about the government’s intentions, with many calling for more openness in the decision-making process.
This situation has brought to the forefront the delicate balance between national security, public morality, and citizens’ digital rights in an increasingly interconnected world.
Equatorial Guinea’s government faces mounting pressure to explain its actions, especially as the scandal involving Baltasar Engonga continues to dominate headlines.
