The latest release of documents by the U.S. Department of Justice on convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein has revealed his connections to prominent African figures. According to the files, Epstein was linked to a relative of Ivorian President Alassane Ouattara, Nina Keita, who facilitated contact between him and the president.

This connection reportedly enabled Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak to propose a mass surveillance system to Ouattara. A formal security deal between the two countries was signed in 2014, though details remain scant.

Epstein was convicted in 2008 on sex trafficking charges and died by suicide in prison in 2019. His accomplice Ghislaine Maxwell was convicted in 2021.

The documents indicate that Ouattara traveled to Israel in June 2012, five days after a failed coup attempt against his government. Ouattara's son and niece met with Epstein in New York, and Keita regularly traveled on Epstein's private jet.

In November 2012, an Israeli delegation visited Abidjan, followed by Barak presenting Ouattara with a $150 million security proposal that included border security, army training, and mobile and internet surveillance centers.

Source: www.aljazeera.com