Former head of Equatorial Guinea’s National Agency for Financial Investigation (ANIF), Baltasar Ebang Engonga, has been sentenced to prison for eight years.
Once admired as one of Equatorial Guinea’s most powerful young elites, Engonga—better known by his nickname “Bello” for his charm and striking looks—has gone from political royalty to prison inmate.
A nephew of President Teodoro Obiang Nguema, Bello’s spectacular rise and humiliating collapse have become one of Africa’s most shocking political scandals.
A Scandal That Rocked the Nation
In late 2024, investigators stumbled upon a trove of over 400 explicit sex tapes on Bello’s personal devices. Many of the videos, some filmed inside his government office, featured wives and relatives of senior officials. When clips leaked online, they ignited a media storm and forced the government to clamp down on internet access in a desperate attempt to control the narrative.
But the sex scandal was only the beginning. Bello was soon charged with embezzlement, illicit enrichment, and abuse of office, allegations that pulled back the curtain on a lavish lifestyle fueled by state resources.
Trial and Conviction
Prosecutors initially demanded an 18-year jail term and millions in penalties, portraying Bello as the face of unchecked corruption. After weeks of courtroom drama, the Bioko Provincial Tribunal sentenced him in August 2025 to 8 years in prison, a fine of $221,000 (CFA 125.4 million), and a lifetime ban from holding public office.
Symbol of Justice—or Power Play?
To some, Bello’s downfall represents a long-awaited reckoning. “It shows that even those closest to power can face justice,” one student activist told local reporters. Yet others argue the case reeks of internal political rivalry—suggesting Bello became expendable after climbing too quickly within the ruling elite.
Life Behind Bars
Now incarcerated at Black Beach Prison in Malabo, a facility infamous for its harsh conditions, Bello’s once-glittering lifestyle has been replaced with confinement, limited visits, and constant scrutiny.
The Bigger Picture
The saga has become a cautionary tale in Equatorial Guinea and beyond—where politics, power, and excess often collide. Whether Bello’s imprisonment will lead to genuine reform or remain a chapter in the country’s cycle of power struggles is yet to be seen.
