US Investigates Possible Role of Jeffrey Epstein in Israeli-Ivory Coast Security Deal

US Department of Justice Releases Additional Epstein Documents Revealing African Connections

The US Department of Justice has released a new batch of documents related to convicted sex offender and financier Jeffrey Epstein. The files, which include over three million emails, photos, and videos, were made public on January 23.

According to the documents, Epstein had ties with several prominent African leaders, including former South African President Jacob Zuma, politician Karim Wade, and deceased Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe. Additionally, a relative of Ivory Coast President Alassane Ouattara was connected to Epstein, which reportedly led to a proposal by Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak for a mass surveillance system in West Africa.

The documents also reveal that discussions between Ouattara and Barak began in mid-2012, after the Ivorian president traveled to Jerusalem for talks with Israeli leaders. The meetings were reportedly aimed at striking a security agreement between the two countries.

Further details on Epstein’s connections to African politics are scarce, but the files do show that his ex-girlfriend and co-conspirator, Ghislaine Maxwell, was involved in some of these interactions. Epstein himself died by suicide in his prison cell in 2019 while awaiting trial on sex trafficking charges.

The released documents provide new insights into Epstein’s influence on powerful figures across continents. The exact nature and scope of the proposed surveillance system are unclear, but the files do indicate a range of connections between Epstein and African leaders.

Source: Al Jazeera