The Equatorial Guinea government has prohibited its citizens on WhatsApp from downloading and sharing multimedia files via mobile data.
According to local news platform Ahora EG, this ban has frustrated citizens who are now unable to share photos, videos, and audio files without relying on WiFi networks.
This action follows new guidelines issued to telecommunications operators, instructing them to implement measures that restrict access to inappropriate content amid the sex scandal involving the country’s Director General of the National Financial Investigation Agency (ANIF), Baltasar Engonga with the spouses of prominent figures.
The scandal emerged during a fraud investigation into the 54-year-old economist, prompting ANIF officials to conduct an unannounced search of his home and office, where they discovered several CDs documenting his sexual encounters with various married women.
The leaked footage reportedly features over 400 videos involving high-profile individuals, including his brother’s wife, his cousin, the sister of the President of Equatorial Guinea, the wife of the Director General of Police, and around 20 ministers’ wives in the country.
These videos, which were recorded with consent, have since circulated online, sparking significant media controversy.
📵🇬🇶 Equatorial Guinea’s government bans multimedia sharing on WhatsApp via mobile data amid a high-profile scandal involving leaked videos. Citizens now rely on WiFi to share files, raising frustrations nationwide. #EquatorialGuinea #WhatsAppBan