Claim:
Viral images and posts circulating on social media platforms (Facebook, Instagram, X/Twitter, and WhatsApp) claim that Balthasar (also known as Baltasar) Ebang Engonga has been released from prison in Equatorial Guinea after serving time. The posts suggest he has completed a “two-year” sentence, is now a “free man,” and has returned to work.
Verdict: False
The Facts:
A thorough review and comprehensive analysis by EIB Research confirm that the claim is unfounded. Balthasar Ebang Engonga was sentenced to eight (8) years in prison on August 27, 2025, by the Bioko Provincial Tribunal for embezzlement of public funds and abuse of office in the “Treasury Affair.”
He was also ordered to pay a fine of approximately $220,000, in addition to other penalties. As of May 20, 2026, he has served only about nine months of his sentence and remains incarcerated, reportedly at Black Beach Prison in Malabo.
No official announcement, court record, government statement, or presidential pardon has been issued regarding his release. Reverse-image searches and social media monitoring show that the viral posts originated from unverified accounts in mid-May 2026 and are often accompanied by recycled or unrelated images.
Credible international and regional media outlets, including those that reported on his original sentencing, have published no updates suggesting any release.
Notably, Equatorial Guinea’s tightly controlled state media has made no publication regarding any supposed release. The official government news portal, Guinea Ecuatorial Press (guineaecuatorialpress.com), which serves as the primary channel for official state communications, has published nothing about Engonga’s release.
Likewise, the state broadcaster—Radio Televisión de Guinea Ecuatorial (RTVGE), including Television Nacional (TVGE) and Radio Nacional—has carried no report or announcement confirming such a development.
The claim appears to exploit Engonga’s notoriety stemming from the 2024 leaked videos (which were unrelated to his corruption conviction) to generate online engagement. Similar false release rumors have circulated previously without evidence.
Conclusion:
Based on the available evidence reviewed by EIB Research, the viral claim that Balthasar Ebang Engonga has been released from prison is false.
By: Isaac Azumah Abilla
(EIB Research, Fact-Check and Investigative Desk)
