According to Fact-Check, a thorough investigation into viral social media posts claiming that Baltasar Ebang Engonga, the former head of Equatorial Guinea’s National Financial Investigation Agency, had been released from prison has revealed that these claims are false. The viral video and image, which had gained significant traction online, were found to be manipulated content.
On November 21st, at 23:10 WAT, a Nigerian influencer posted an 11-second video with the caption, “BREAKING: Baltasar Engonga from Equatorial Guinea has been released and is now back with his family.” The video showed a man, purported to be Engonga, relaxing in a sitting room with a woman’s voice heard in the background. The post went viral, generating 379 retweets and 164 comments. This led to mixed reactions, with many social media users expressing relief over his supposed release, while others questioned the integrity of Africa’s justice systems.
Just three days later, on November 24, another influencer shared an image of Engonga with a woman on a beach, captioned, “Baltasar Engonga’s first weekend as a free man. He didn’t waste any time, guess what happens next?” This post went on to generate 11.8 million engagements on X (formerly Twitter), lending more credibility to the misleading claims.
Engonga’s Arrest and Background
Baltasar Engonga was arrested on October 25, 2025, while serving as the Director General of the National Financial Investigation Agency. His arrest followed the discovery of substantial sums of money hidden in his personal accounts. Engonga was subsequently imprisoned at the notorious Black Beach prison in Malabo, which is known for its harsh treatment of government critics.
Following his arrest, explicit videos involving Engonga and prominent women in the country circulated widely on social media, intensifying the controversy. As a result, Engonga was suspended from his office on November 7. Despite the viral claims about his release, Fact-Check confirmed that there is no credible evidence to suggest that Engonga has been freed from prison.
Fact-Check’s Investigation into the Viral Content
Fact-Check undertook a comprehensive investigation into the video and image that were widely shared. Using reverse image search, they found that the video, which emerged around November 21-22, was difficult to trace to its original source. The video was analyzed using Deepware, an open-source intelligence tool, which revealed that it was heavily altered, scoring 81% on the deepfake scale. This confirmed the video was manipulated.
Similarly, Fact-Check used reverse image searches and forensic tools to analyze the photo posted on November 24. Their investigation showed that while the image had been widely circulated, it lacked an identifiable original source. Further analysis revealed minor inconsistencies, suggesting the photo had been digitally altered.
Expert Confirmation on Engonga’s Imprisonment
To further verify the situation, Fact-Check consulted Delfin Mocache Massoko, an investigative journalist and founder of Diario Rombe, who is currently in exile from Equatorial Guinea due to threats on his life. Massoko confirmed that Engonga had neither been released from prison nor tried in court. He explained that the viral videos had been retrieved from devices seized by the national gendarmerie, and that someone was using the footage to blackmail those involved.
Massoko also clarified that the video of Engonga sitting in his room was old footage that had recently resurfaced online, with no connection to any release from prison.
After an in-depth investigation, Fact-Check confirms that the viral claims about Baltasar Engonga’s release from prison are entirely false. Both the video and image circulating on social media have been manipulated, and no legitimate evidence supports the idea that Engonga has been freed. This misleading information appears to have been driven by influencers seeking engagement through false narratives.
However, Fact-Check’s investigative efforts has helped to clarify the situation and prevent the spread of further misinformation.
About Fact Check Africa
FactCheckAfrica (FCA) is an independent fact-checking platform under the Brain Builders Youth Development Initiative (BBYDI), a non-governmental, non-profit organization incorporated under Nigeria’s Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC), with a mission is to provide accurate, timely, and unbiased fact-check reports focused on:
- Electoral activities
- Issues in government
- Accountability in governance
- Climate
- Conflicts in Africa
