Dons Eze
- Foreign Affairs
- November 28, 2024
- 258 views
FINISH COURT FIXES MAY 2025 DATE AS SIMON EKPA’S TRIAL
Pro-Biafran agitator, Simon Ekpa, who was arrested in Finland for alleged terrorism-related activities, is scheduled to face charges in May 2025 potentially, according to Finnish authorities. A Senior Detective Superintendent at Finland’s National Bureau of Investigation, Mikko Laaksonen, confirmed to The PUNCH via email on Tuesday that the district court had set May 2025 as the deadline for prosecutors to present possible charges against Ekpa. The Finnish government had last week announced the arrest of Ekpa alongside four others on suspicion of terror-related activities, including incitement to violence and terrorism financing. Finnish police confirmed that Ekpa, described as the self-proclaimed Prime Minister of the Biafra Republic Government-in-Exile, allegedly used social media to promote violence in the South-East region, targeting civilians and authorities. According to local publication Yle, Ekpa was remanded in custody by the Päijät-Häme District Court on charges of public incitement to commit a crime with terrorist intent. The publication reported that the Finnish Central Criminal Police confirmed the arrests in a statement last Thursday, noting that the other suspects were apprehended for allegedly financing terrorist activities. Giving an update on the case in response to The PUNCH enquiries, detective Laaksonen noted that the investigation was ongoing, and no further details could be disclosed. Asked when Ekpa’s case would come up in court, he replied, “Due to the ongoing investigation, no further details can be disclosed. “The date for bringing up possible charges by the prosecution was set by the district court to May 2025.” He noted that Ekpa and the Finnish authorities may request a re-evaluation after two weeks. “In a basic situation regarding the remand, the next possible hearing can be held no earlier than two weeks from the previous hearing, should the parties in question seek for the matter to be re-evaluated by the district court,” Laaksonen explained. The case has drawn significant international attention, with Finnish authorities confirming that cross-border cooperation is integral to the investigation. However, officials have refrained from providing further information about the nature or extent of the international collaboration. “International cooperation is part of the investigation due to the nature of the case but no further comments can be given on the subject at this point,” the NBI stated. Ekpa gained notoriety for his calls to boycott Nigeria’s 2023 general elections, which led to violent enforcement measures and attacks on residents. He was first arrested in February 2023 for inciting violence and issuing sit-at-home orders to Igbos and other South-East residents. The suspect’s activities prompted global petitions from Nigerians urging the Finnish and Nigerian governments, as well as the European Union, to take action. In response, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs summoned the Finnish Ambassador to Nigeria, Leena Pylvanainen, to demand Finland’s cooperation in addressing the threats posed by Ekpa. Last Thursday, the District Court of Päijät-Häme, Finland, ordered that Ekpa be imprisoned “with probable cause on suspicion of public incitement to commit a crime with terrorist intent.” Ekpa, a Finnish citizen of Nigerian origin, was accused of inciting crimes with terrorist intent, while the other suspects face charges of financing terrorism. As a prominent figure in the separatist Indigenous People of Biafra, he has championed a controversial call for an independent Biafran state. His rhetoric escalated in recent years, with explicit endorsements of violence and disruptions to Nigerian elections. Finnish authorities have linked Ekpa to coordinated attacks targeting civilians and the security forces, with investigations tracing some of these activities back to 2021. His use of social media as a platform for incitement and fundraising is a central element of the case. The sit-at-home orders enforced by the ESN had caused devastating economic consequences in the South-East. According to reports, the region has lost over ₦4trn in two years due to these activities…
- Foreign Affairs
- November 25, 2024
- 119 views
CONCERN OVER PUTIN’S HEALTH, HAS NOT BEEN SEEN FOR TWO WEEKS
CONCERN OVER PUTIN’S HEALTH, HAS NOT BEEN SEEN FOR TWO WEEKS President Vladimir Putin has not been seen in public for 13 days following claims of ill health, while the Kremlin is accused of releasing pre-recorded meetings.The Russian president appears to have mysteriously disappeared – with his last public appearance being nearly two weeks ago at a conference in Sochi.According to the Telegram channel VChK-OGPU, Putin has been undergoing health treatments: “Indeed, Putin has been absent from work recently and receives all reports exclusively via special communications.”Those close to him are given the same standard answer in such cases: “He is undergoing a medical examination and a regular course of general health improvement.”The channel added that nobody actually knows what the real answer is or where he is.This is not the first time speculation have grown regarding the Russian president’s health.Some claim he has appeared overly tired, having difficulty walking and strongly gripping tables in meetings – sparking rumours of Parkinson’s disease.He was also said to have cancer several times in 2014, 2020 and 2022, and reportedly travels with an entourage of doctors to assist him in case of a medical emergency.There are also reports of Putin using body doubles, who are said to have gone through intense plastic surgery to look identical to the president.Speaking to The Sun, Russia expert Keir Giles said: “If you watch Putin closely, it’s hard to avoid the suspicion that often some of the appearances you’re seeing are not, in fact, the same person.”He also noted the stark differences in the Russian president’s appearance – from looking healthy at one event to looking sick at the next.“There are some times when he looks really quite frail, bloated, puffy, shaking, having to grip onto the table and only giving very short five-minute speeches even on major public events,” Giles said.And then there are times when he appears to bounce back as a much healthier individual who is standing up and speaking for 40 minutes.”He added that the state of Putin’s health was a “mystery to us all.” The government has previously denied that Putin’s health is failing.In October, Putin admitted in a televised meeting that he regularly undergoes medical examinations at the Central Clinical Hospital in Moscow.After this comment, his aides quickly dispelled any rumours that the president was ill. His spokesman Dmitry Peskov said: “He meant routine medical examinations.”The state news agency TASS also insists Putin “has no health problems.”Regardless of the rumours, the Russian president seems to have no intention of slowing down, having won an election that permits him to continue ruling until 2030.He has continued to lead Russia and its war on Ukraine.
- Foreign Affairs
- November 24, 2024
- 112 views
FOUR FACTS THAT MAKE SOUTH AFRICA THE TRUE GIANT OF AFRICA
FOUR FACTS THAT MAKE SOUTH AFRICA THE TRUE GIANT OF AFRICA The title giant of Africa has for many years been attributed to Nigeria, the most populous and generally the richest African country in recent times. But the facts have changed between South Africa and Nigeria about who the true giant of Africa is. Nigeria in the last decade, has witnessed tremendous downturn in what has made it the giant of Africa, the country has been poorly managed by its political leaders, turning it into a shadow of its former self. A new force has always followed suit and, for many years, has been regarded as the underdog of development in Africa. South Africa is now ready to finally leave the underdog tag and is already taking Africa by storm. These four data-driven facts show it is now the true giant of Africa, surpassing Nigeria, and it may remain that way for many years to come unless Nigeria does something quickly and positively. Economy According to Statista 2024 ranking, South Africa has the largest Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in Africa, edging Nigeria in the first thing that matters. South Africa’s GDP amounted to just over 373 billion U.S. dollars in 2024, the highest in Africa. Egypt followed, with a GDP worth around 347.6 billion U.S. dollars and ranked as the second-highest on the continent. Algeria ranked third, with about 266.8 billion U.S. dollars. Nigeria comes a distant fourth in the ranking, with a GDP of 252.74 billion U.S. dollars. These African economies are among some of the fastest-growing economies worldwide, yet Nigeria is currently regressing in the scheme of things, the currency rate is a testament to this troubling issue. Education South Africa emerged as a front-runner in the latest Student Satisfaction report, outperforming both Nigeria and Egypt in several areas of education. Going by the information from the 2023 Global Student Satisfaction Awards (GSSA) report provides insights into the experiences of students from over 200 nationalities at 3,661 institutions, including South Africa, Nigeria, and Egypt. According to the report, South Africa achieved an impressive overall student satisfaction score of 3.98, a remarkable feat that outpaces the global average of 4.21. Furthermore, South African institutions also demonstrated excellence in enriching student life, scoring above the global average of 4.33. This achievement firmly places South Africa in the vanguard of education in Africa. Nigeria received a lower overall satisfaction score of 3.77, falling short of the global average due to voiced concerns about the frequent and extended lecturer strikes, alongside the quality of teaching and available facilities. Those in South Africa who responded cited crime as their main challenge. These concerns contributed to a low score of 3.45 for Nigeria in quality of student life against a global average of 4.33. During the assessment, one Nigerian student said, “There are never-ending strikes, outdated curricula, and a persistent lack of adequate teaching facilities. Although my university is ranked as one of the best institutions of higher learning in the country, the teaching methods employed by the lecturers still have a long way to go,” a true summary of what the education system has become, but not a true reflection of the brilliance of Nigeria students. Health If history is to go by, Nigeria should edge this very important aspect of existence. There was once a time when foreigners from around the world visited Nigeria for quality health care; fast forward to 2024, and all these have fallen apart. According to worlddata.info, a 2024 comparison between the two African countries showed South Africa has gone beyond the reach of Nigeria’s grasp in quality health care. Hospital beds per 1000 inh.: 0.50. 2.80 Physicians per 1000 Inh.: 0.40 0.81 Malaria cases: 292.217 ‰ 0.049 ‰ Rabies deaths:…
- Foreign Affairs
- November 24, 2024
- 78 views
140 YEARS AFTER THE BERLIN WEST AFRICA CONFERENCE BY CHIDI ANSELM ODINKALU & CHEPKORIR SAMBU
140 YEARS AFTER THE BERLIN WEST AFRICA CONFERENCE BY CHIDI ANSELM ODINKALU & CHEPKORIR SAMBU Described by one scholar on its centenary as “perhaps the greatest historical movement of modern times”, the Berlin Conference West Africa Conference began shortly after noon on 15 November 1884. Interrupted only by a short break at the end of the year and the beginning of the next, historian, Adu Boahen,records that the conference ended on 31 January 1884. On 26 February 1885, the powers gathered at the conference ratified the General Act of the Berlin Conference, which embodied their agreements. The week before the ratification of the General Act, according to historian, Godfrey Uzoigwe, the Lagos Observer newspaper lamented that “the world had, perhaps, never witnessed a robbery on so large ascale.” Among the six goals identified by the General Act, the over-arching provisions set out “rules for future occupation of the coast of the African continent.” Of the 15 countries that attended the conference, 14 were European: United Kingdom, France, Germany, Austria-Hungary, Belgium, Denmark, Spain, Italy, the Netherlands, Portugal, Russia, Sweden-Norway, and the Ottoman Empire (Turkey). All the European powers signed on to the General Act. The United States of America was the only non-European country at the table and also the only participating country that did not officially ratify the resulting treaty. From Africa, the Sultan of Zanzibar had equally sought representation at the conference but had his ambition derisorily blocked by the United Kingdom. Otto von Bismark, Chancellor of Germany which attained unification only 13 years earlier in 1871, hosted the Berlin Conference. Six years earlier, he had similarly played host to the Congress of Berlin called to stabilize the Balkan Peninsula at the end of the Russo-Turkish War in 1878. There was an irony to the fact that the same venue was to serve as the site of a conference to Balkanise a distant continent of about 30,302,861 square kilometres. For context, this is territory big enough to contain all of the U.S.A., India, Europe, Argentina and New Zealandcombined with some room to spare. The Scramble for Africa preceded the Berlin Conference but the conference crystallised rules and doctrines that would govern the colonial occupation of Africa in its wake. In opening the conference, Bismark hoped that it would agree rules to regulate “the terms for the development of trade and civilization in certain regions of Africa”; assure free navigation of the Rivers Congo and the Niger; anticipate and avoid disputes as to new acts of territorial occupation in Africa and “further the moral and material wellbeing of the native population.” The aftermath is controversial for predictable reasons. The continent lives with the consequences of decisions in which it did not participate and whose records are also outside its control. While the lingering consequences of Berlin continue to be debated, a few deserve to be highlighted. First, as is evident from Bismark’s stipulations, the conference objectives and outcomes infantilized Africa and its peoples and habituated the world to the continent as lacking in agency and its territories as lacking in history or civilization prior to the occupation that followed in the wake of Berlin. These ideas were to be subsequently embodied in doctrine,jurisprudence and treaty law. The Judicial Committee of the Privy Council ruled in 1918 that African territories were “so low in the scale of social organization that their usages and conceptions of rights and duties are not to be reconciled with the institutions or the legal ideas of civilized society.” The court offered no authority or support for this decision; there was none. This jurisprudence made its way into the provisions of Article 22 of the League of Nations Covenant which referred to these territories as being “inhabited by peoples not…
- Foreign Affairs
- November 22, 2024
- 157 views
WHITE HOUSE REJECTS ICC ARREST WARRANTS FOR NETANYAHU, GALLANT
WHITE HOUSE REJECTS ICC ARREST WARRANTS FOR NETANYAHU, GALLANT The White House flatly rejected on Thursday the International Criminal Court’s (ICC) decision to issue arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and ex-Defense Minister Yoav Gallant for their conduct in the war in Gaza. “The United States fundamentally rejects the Court’s decision to issue arrest warrants for senior Israeli officials. We remain deeply concerned by the Prosecutor’s rush to seek arrest warrants and the troubling process errors that led to this decision,” a National Security Council spokesperson told Anadolu. “The United States has been clear that the ICC does not have jurisdiction over this matter. In coordination with partners, including Israel, we are discussing next steps.” The Hague-based court announced the arrest warrants for Netanyahu and Gallant earlier in the day “for crimes against humanity and war crimes committed from at least 8 October 2023 until at least 20 May 2024,” when ICC prosecutor Karim Khan sought the warrants In doing so, it also unanimously rejected Israel’s challenges to jurisdiction under articles 18 and 19 of the Rome Statute. The court said it “found reasonable grounds” to believe that Netanyahu and Gallant “bear criminal responsibility” for “the war crime of starvation as a method of warfare; and the crimes against humanity of murder, persecution, and other inhumane acts.” The Israeli onslaught has displaced almost the entire population of the territory amid an ongoing and deliberate blockade that has led to severe shortages of food, clean water, and medicine, pushing the population to the brink of starvation.
- Foreign Affairs
- November 15, 2024
- 92 views
FBI, CIA, DEA BIGGEST BLOW TO DEMOCRACY IN AFRICA, BY RAPHAEL ADEBOYE
FBI, CIA, DEA BIGGEST BLOW TO DEMOCRACY IN AFRICA! BY RAPHAEL ADEBOYE I just read the document detailing the United States’ multiagency defense of the drug baron in Aso Villa. Let’s be clear about one thing: the FBI, CIA, DEA and other US agencies in that report just delivered the most damaging blow to liberal democracy and representative governance the world has ever witnessed since the collapse of the Soviet Union. The CIA and other covert US intelligence agencies have dedicated most of their existence since the post-1945 period to throttling regimes considered inimical to liberal democracy, from Eastern Europe to South America, Asia, and Africa. African leaders have been summarily assassinated, overthrown, or demonized by the CIA and other Western security agencies and propaganda outfits under the pretext that these leaders were undemocratic and “unreasonable.” Telling the Nigerian people that they do not have the right to question the background of the impostor who has imposed himself on them is precisely the same as telling them not to exist or be citizens who fulfill their civic duties. How much privacy is too much privacy? Nigerians know all about the adventures of Hushpuppi, as publicly and volubly disclosed by the FBI, despite Hushpuppi being a private citizen. How is the Instagram Hushpuppi different from this unpresidential Hushpuppi in public office? Even Donald Trump, while merely campaigning, was unequivocally open about his medical records and several other so-called “private” information. So what is all this buffoonery and obfuscatory Glomarization concealing crucial details on a public servant who bludgeoned his way to the highest office in a country of nearly 250 million citizens? What is the point of representative democracy if the people cannot question their public servants about anything and everything? Every liberal democratic constitution I know states that sovereignty belongs to the people. What the FBI, CIA, and others are telling us now is that this is pure speculative fiction. Even pre-colonial African states did not indulge in this level of tone-deafness whenever the people asked consequential questions. How many more people must die? How many more juveniles must be unjustly imprisoned and violated? How many more citizens of this country must suffer and be strangulated? How much more damage must the usurper in Aso Villa cause in Nigeria and the Sahel before the US starts taking its professed commitment to democracy, human rights, and transparency seriously in Africa? At this point, we Africans had better set to work to revive and critically develop our traditional institutions if we ever want to make it out of our current rut. We were democratic long before the Europeans came to tell us their democracy was superior.
- Foreign Affairs
- November 14, 2024
- 207 views
TRUMP VOWS TO HELP RESTORE ELECTORAL INTEGRITY IN NIGERIA – RESPONSE TO GOODLUCK JONATHAN
TRUMP VOWS TO HELP RESTORE ELECTORAL INTEGRITY IN NIGERIA – RESPONSE TO GOODLUCK JONATHAN Following his victory as the 47th President of the United States, Donald Trump received a congratulatory message from former Nigerian President, Goodluck Ebele Jonathan. The message, which expressed goodwill and hope for global peace, was acknowledged by Trump on his official X account, marking a moment of diplomatic exchange. In his congratulatory note, Jonathan emphasized the significance of Trump’s triumph, describing it as a testament to the trust reposed in him by the American people. “I extend my warmest congratulations on your election as the 47th President of the United States. Your significant victory underscores the trust that the American people have in your leadership and vision for the future,” Jonathan stated. The former Nigerian leader went further to highlight his optimism for Trump’s presidency, urging him to advance not only American interests but also to foster global stability. “I am hopeful that your presidency will go beyond advancing American interests to support global peace, stability, and progress. Once again, please accept my heartfelt congratulations,” Jonathan added. Trump, in response, expressed gratitude for Jonathan’s message and reiterated his administration’s commitment to fostering strong ties with African nations. A statement shared by the Donald Trump Campaign Updates account highlighted the President-elect’s vision for strengthening electoral systems in Africa, with a particular focus on Nigeria. “Thanks for your goodwill words. Together we will make America great again and restore electoral integrity in Nigeria and across the African continent,” the statement read. This development suggests that Trump’s administration could prioritize collaborations aimed at enhancing democracy and fair elections in Africa, signaling a possible shift in U.S.-Africa relations under his leadership. Observers have noted the potential for such initiatives to bolster democratic values across the continent, aligning with global calls for transparent and credible electoral processes. As Trump prepares to take office, global leaders and observers alike will be watching closely to see how his administration balances domestic priorities with international diplomacy.
- Foreign Affairs
- November 12, 2024
- 192 views
BREAKING: ARCHBISHOP OF CANTERBURY, JUSTIN WELBY, RESIGNS
BREAKING. THE ARCHBISHOP OF CANTERBURY, JUSTIN WELBY RESIGNS This comes after the independent Makin review discovered that the Church of England covered up sexual abuse by a barrister. Following calls for his resignation, Welby said the report “exposed the long-maintained conspiracy of silence about the heinous abuses of John Smyth”. According to Welby, he believed wrongly that an appropriate resolution would follow” when he was told in 2013 that Smyth had been reported to the police. In a statement, Welby said: ‘Having sought the gracious permission of His Majesty The King, I have decided to resign as Archbishop of Canterbury. “It is very clear that I must take personal and institutional responsibility for the long and retraumatizing period between 2013 and 2024”. The independent Makin review into John Smyth QC’s abuse of children and young men was published last week. John Smyth QC is said to have subjected his victims to traumatic physical, sexual, psychological and spiritual attacks. The report concluded he might have been brought to justice had Mr Welby formally reported it to police a decade ago. Smyth died aged 75 in Cape Town in 2018 while under investigation by Hampshire Police, and so was “never brought to justice for the abuse”, the review said.
- Foreign Affairs
- November 12, 2024
- 90 views
WAR OF FIRST LADIES: MELANIA TRUMP SNUBS JILL BIDEN, SKIPS TRADITIONAL MEETING
WAR OF FIRST LADIES: MELENA TRUMP SNUBS JILL BIDEN, SKIPS TRADITIONAL MEETING Melania Trump will not join Donald Trump at the White House on Wednesday, despite receiving an invitation from President Joe Biden and first lady Jill Biden to attend. Traditionally, when the outgoing president hosts the incoming president-elect in the Oval Office, the first lady hosts her successor for tea in the residence. Michelle Obama hosted Melania Trump for tea in the Yellow Room after the 2016 election. However, Melania Trump did not meet with Jill Biden after the contentious 2020 race as Donald Trump falsely and repeatedly claimed he was the true winner. Melania and Jill have yet to speak in the aftermath of Kamala Harris’ humiliating defeat, even though their husbands had a cordial phone call, sources confirm. ‘Mrs. Trump is not going, and they have not spoken,’ a source with knowledge said of the first ladies told DailyMail.com of Wednesday’s presidential sitdown. The last time Jill Biden and Melania Trump would have seen each other would have been at Rosalynn Carter’s funeral in November of last year. All living former first ladies attended. There have been numerous reports Melania Trump intends to be a part time first lady for her second term and may not even live full time at the White House. She has yet to announce an agenda or any staff hires. Four years ago, Donald Trump snubbed Joe Biden after Biden defeated him, refusing to invite him for the traditional Oval Office meeting and delaying the transition process. Melania Trump followed her husband’s lead and didn’t reach out to Jill Biden. The Bidens, however, have promised a peaceful and orderly transition to the upcoming Trump Administration. ‘The Bidens extended congratulations and a joint invite to the Trumps to meet at the White House,’ Jill Biden’s office said. Donald Trump and Joe Biden will meet Wednesday in the Oval Office. The Bidens will attend Trump’s inauguration in January 2025, according to the White House. Traditionally, the outgoing president welcomes the incoming one to the White House on the morning of the inauguration before riding together in the same vehicle to the Capitol building for the swearing in. Trump rode with then-President Barack Obama to his own inauguration. Biden attended that inauguration in his role as outgoing vice president. But, in 2020, Trump became the first president to skip his predecessor’s swearing-in so since Andrew Johnson skipped the 1869 swearing-in of Ulysses S. Grant. Biden simply went to the Capitol from the hotel where he was staying and didn’t go to the White House until he had taken the oath of office. Donald and Melania Trump left the White House about 10 am the morning of Biden’s Inauguration Day. They have not been back since. Melania Trump is working on a transition and showing some signs of building up an East Wing office.
- Foreign Affairs
- November 12, 2024
- 163 views
UNTOLD STORY OF EQUATORIAL GUINEAS SEX TAPE LEAK
THE UNTOLD STORY OF EQUATORIAL GUINEAS SEX TAPE LEAKIn recent weeks, Equatorial Guinea has been rocked by an explosive scandal involving leaked sex tapes of Baltasar Ebang Mr Engonga, a senior civil servant and nephew of President Teodoro Obiang Nguema.What began as a salacious scandal may, in fact, be the latest power play in the fight over the country’s presidential succession.Dozens of explicit videos—estimated between 150 to more than 400— surfaced on social media, showing Mr Engonga, known as “Bello” for his good looks, engaging in sexual acts with multiple women in his office and other locations. Some of the women were reported to be the wives and relatives of high-ranking officials, adding fuel to the political firestorm.While the identity of those who leaked the tapes remained unclear, some speculated that the scandal was part of a coordinated effort to discredit Mr Engonga. He was one of several figures thought to be vying to replace President Nguema, the world’s longest-serving president, who has ruled Equatorial Guinea since 1979.As news of the tapes spread, observers began questioning the timing and purpose of the leaks. Just days before the videos surfaced, Mr Engonga was arrested on charges of embezzling state funds and was held in the notorious Black Beach prison. His phones and computers were confiscated, leading to suspicions that security forces may have been involved in leaking the recordings.Equatoguinean activist Nsang Christia Esimi Cruz, speaking from London on the ‘BBC Focus on Africa’ podcast, suggested that the scandal was part of a larger power struggle. “What we are seeing is the end of an era, the end of the current president, and there is a succession [question] and this is the internal fighting we are seeing,” said Mr Cruz.He believed Vice President Teodoro Obiang Mangue—who also happened to be the president’s son—was using the scandal to eliminate political opponents, including Engonga.The vice president made headlines before for his extravagant lifestyle, which included once owning a $275,000 crystal-encrusted glove worn by Michael Jackson. However, Mr Cruz alleged that the vice-president, along with his mother, was now clearing the path for his ascension to power by sidelining potential challengers.While the leaked videos captivated the public beyond Equatorial Guinea, some activists argued that the real issue was much larger. Equatorial Guinea was plagued by economic decline as its once-booming oil reserves dwindled. Despite vast wealth among a small elite, many of the country’s 1.7 million residents continued to live in poverty. The Nguema administration faced numerous accusations of human rights abuses, including arbitrary killings and torture, according to a United States government report.Activist Cruz expressed frustration that international attention focused on the sex scandal rather than the broader problems facing the country. “Equatorial Guinea has much bigger problems than this sex scandal,” he said, explaining that the leak is “just a symptom of the illness, it’s not the illness itself.”Indeed, palace intrigue has long been a defining feature of Equatorial Guinea’s political landscape. Although the country held regular elections, there was no meaningful opposition. Political rivals and activists were often jailed or exiled, and allegations of coup plotting were common. The scandal appeared to be the latest chapter in this ongoing struggle for power.In response to the scandal, Vice-President Obiang Mangue took swift action. On October 30, he ordered telecom companies to curb the spread of the videos. “We cannot continue to watch families fall apart without taking any action,” he wrote on social media. Despite the efforts, the clips continued to circulate.Engonga faced additional legal troubles. The police encouraged the women involved in the videos to file complaints, and at least one has announced her intention to sue him for non-consensual distribution of the tapes. It remained unclear why Engonga recorded his sexcapades, though some suggested…