New revelations have tied Jeffrey Epstein and former Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak to covert security operations in West Africa, highlighting how Israeli intelligence networks extended their reach into C&ocirc;te d&rsquo;Ivoire&rsquo;s political establishment.
At the close of his tenure as Israel&rsquo;s Defense Minister, Barak reportedly turned into a global broker for Israeli surveillance services, promoting advanced monitoring systems to governments facing unrest. One such deal was allegedly brokered with the quiet assistance of Epstein, who died in a U.S. jail in 2019 under controversial circumstances.
According to leaked emails and recently released U.S. House Oversight Committee documents, Epstein played an intermediary role in arranging meetings between Barak and Ivorian officials around 2012. The pair discussed the growing instability in the region, with Epstein writing to Barak that &ldquo;civil unrest&rdquo; presented &ldquo;the perfect opportunity.&rdquo; Barak replied that turning such crises into &ldquo;cash flow&rdquo; was complex but possible.
The partnership reportedly led to a proposal for nationwide surveillance of phone and internet traffic in C&ocirc;te d&rsquo;Ivoire, developed by former Israeli intelligence officers. By 2014, this private initiative evolved into an official bilateral security agreement between Israel and C&ocirc;te d&rsquo;Ivoire.
Since then, President Alassane Ouattara has consolidated his power, clamping down on dissent and opposition groups. Human rights activists say the Israeli-backed security apparatus has helped entrench authoritarian rule. Exiled activist Boga Sako Gervais recently stated, &ldquo;Since 2011, freedoms of opinion and expression have been criminalized. Criticizing the president has become forbidden.&rdquo;
The revelations are part of an expanding investigation into Epstein&rsquo;s financial and political networks, which appear to have intersected with Israeli intelligence interests far beyond the Middle East.
Meanwhile, Drop Site, the outlet publishing these findings, faces legal pressure after its earlier reporting drew a defamation suit from a BBC editor. The platform has vowed to fight the case, urging readers to support its legal defense and protect press freedom against intimidation tactics. [This report is sourced from Drop Site News and was not produced by the Benefit News editorial team]

Jeffrey Epstein with soldiers in Africa, from his “birthday book.”

Leaked files reveal Epstein aided Barak in selling Israeli surveillance tech to Côte d’Ivo

Epstein, Barak Linked to Israel’s Africa Deals

Leaked files reveal Epstein aided Barak in selling Israeli surveillance tech to Côte d’Ivo

November 8, 2025 | 15:24 IST