Newly revealed documents expose a clandestine operation involving financier Jeffrey Epstein and former Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak, aimed at expanding Israel’s security interests in West Africa, specifically Cote d’Ivoire. Following the nation’s contentious 2010 election and subsequent unrest, Epstein and Barak reportedly leveraged the political instability to forge security deals and establish influence.
After President Alassane Ouattara’s victory was contested and a period of violence ensued, the international community focused on the immediate crisis. However, behind the scenes, Epstein and Barak were orchestrating a different strategy. Emails suggest Epstein viewed the ‘civil unrest’ and ‘desperation of those in power’ as a prime opportunity for Barak’s security services.
By 2013, Barak, then out of his cabinet role, began offering Israeli security expertise to governments facing pressure. Epstein, known for his discreet connections, provided crucial support and introductions. Leaked materials indicate Epstein’s involvement in disseminating plans from former Israeli intelligence officials for communication monitoring in Cote d’Ivoire. This groundwork culminated in an official security agreement between Israel and Cote d’Ivoire in 2014.
Epstein facilitated key meetings, including one between Ouattara’s son and himself, and later with Ouattara’s niece, Nina Keita, shortly before Barak met President Ouattara. Despite Barak’s claims of a purely personal relationship with Epstein, evidence suggests Epstein acted as a vital connector. Even after leaving office, Barak remained involved, receiving documents detailing surveillance projects for Abidjan.
Despite a temporary halt due to a UN report on Israeli-labeled ammunition, Barak continued to engage with Israeli security officials and Ivorian government representatives. His visit to Abidjan in August 2013 was publicly framed as a humanitarian effort, but it involved meetings with high-ranking officials, including President Ouattara. A detailed brief on a SIGINT system for Cote d’Ivoire, based on extensive Israeli intelligence experience, was shared with Barak, explicitly referencing its potential as an ‘export-of-knowledge’ initiative.
Further coordination occurred through Epstein’s extensive network in New York. Once UN sanctions were lifted in mid-2014, the security and defense agreement between Israel and Cote d’Ivoire was formalized. The revelations also point to Yoni Koren, a former Israeli intelligence officer and Barak aide, staying at Epstein’s residence, underscoring a continued informal intelligence link.