New evidence has surfaced, linking financier Jeffrey Epstein to a sophisticated network aimed at advancing Israel’s security interests in West Africa, particularly in Cote d’Ivoire, during a period of political upheaval. Working alongside former Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak, Epstein reportedly helped navigate the country’s instability following the 2010 presidential election to secure security cooperation and influence.
The post-election crisis in Cote d’Ivoire, marked by violence and a leadership dispute, attracted international scrutiny. Unbeknownst to the public, Epstein and Barak allegedly saw this as an opportune moment to establish Israeli security operations. Epstein’s communications suggest he believed the prevailing ‘desperation’ and ‘civil unrest’ presented an ideal scenario for Barak to offer his expertise.
After leaving his cabinet position in 2013, Barak began actively pursuing international security contracts. Epstein provided discreet but significant backing, facilitating introductions and communications. Evidence points to Epstein’s involvement in circulating intelligence strategies, prepared by former Israeli operatives, for monitoring communications within Cote d’Ivoire. This initiative paved the way for a formal security accord signed in 2014.
Epstein’s role as a connector was crucial. He arranged meetings between key figures, including a rendezvous with Ouattara’s son on the same day Barak met the Ivorian leader in 2012. He also met Ouattara’s niece before subsequently meeting Barak. Epstein’s travel itinerary at the time included planned visits to Cote d’Ivoire and other African nations, suggesting a broader regional agenda.
While Barak has maintained that his relationship with Epstein was personal, documentation indicates Epstein acted as a strategic facilitator. Even after Barak’s departure from government in March 2013, he remained involved in deal-making, receiving classified documents related to surveillance infrastructure for Abidjan.
During a temporary hiatus caused by a UN report on Israeli arms, Barak continued his efforts. He engaged with former Israeli intelligence chiefs and high-ranking Ivorian officials, including the presidential chief of staff. Barak’s subsequent visit to Abidjan, presented publicly as a humanitarian mission, involved substantial interactions with the Ivorian government.
In September 2013, a former director of Israeli military intelligence provided Barak with a detailed proposal for a signals intelligence (SIGINT) system in Cote d’Ivoire, emphasizing its origins in Israeli operational experience and its potential as a knowledge export. Epstein’s network in New York was utilized to coordinate further discussions and meetings.
The official defense and internal security agreement between Israel and Cote d’Ivoire was finalized in mid-2014, following the lifting of UN sanctions. Furthermore, records indicate that Yoni Koren, a former Israeli intelligence officer and associate of Barak, stayed at Epstein’s New York residence, serving as an unofficial link to Israeli intelligence circles.