Keypoints:
- Epstein cultivated influence among African political elites
- Funded legal and lobbying efforts for Karim Wade
- Sought business deals and controversial personal ties
CONVICTED sex offender Jeffrey Epstein built a network of ties across African political and business elites before his death in 2019, according to findings by the US newspaper Miami Herald.
The findings shed new light on how Epstein leveraged wealth and access to embed himself within African elite power networks, raising fresh questions about the global reach of his influence before his death in a Manhattan jail cell.
The Miami Herald findings draw on newly reviewed emails and documents linked to Epstein’s international network, outlining how he pursued political access, financial opportunities and personal connections across the continent.
Backing Karim Wade amid corruption probe
Central to the findings is Epstein’s relationship with Karim Wade, son of former Senegalese president Abdoulaye Wade.
When Senegalese authorities launched a corruption investigation into Wade—who was later convicted of illicit enrichment and jailed—Epstein provided significant support. He offered access to his Palm Beach mansion and funded legal efforts, including hiring a major US law firm to lobby Washington officials.
The case became one of Senegal’s most high-profile anti-corruption prosecutions, as Africa Briefing previously reported.
Emails reviewed by the Miami Herald show Epstein maintaining close personal contact. After Wade’s release in 2016, he wrote that he was ‘very glad to have you back’ and suggested they could ‘share incarceration stories’.
Libya links and shifting alliances
The findings also highlight Epstein’s attempts to cultivate political ties in North Africa, including outreach to Libya’s former leader Muammar Gaddafi.
In 2010, Epstein sought to build relationships within Gaddafi’s inner circle. As the Libyan regime weakened during the Arab Spring, he reportedly shifted his attention to opposition figures, reflecting a strategic approach to maintaining influence amid political change.
Business ambitions and sanctions advice
Epstein’s ambitions extended into Africa-linked business ventures. In 2018, he met a Nigerian-born businessman pursuing a mining deal complicated by US sanctions.
During discussions at his Palm Beach residence, Epstein suggested that engagement with the US Treasury could help structure the deal to navigate restrictions, positioning himself as a deal facilitator in complex international transactions.
Allegations of recruitment activity
The findings also revisit longstanding allegations tied to Epstein’s conduct, including attempts to recruit women internationally.
Emails show Epstein requesting introductions to young women, expressing a preference for those ‘under 25’. He also contacted intermediaries with links to modelling networks in Europe and South Africa, offering to cover travel expenses for women to visit him.
One connection cited is Nina Keita, who has ties to the family of Cote d’Ivoire President Alassane Ouattara.
Pattern of global influence
Taken together, the findings suggest Epstein’s activities in Africa mirrored his broader global strategy—using wealth, access and connections to build relationships with powerful figures while pursuing business and personal interests.
His death in a Manhattan jail in 2019 halted multiple investigations, but emerging details continue to expose how deeply his network penetrated global power structures, including across Africa’s political and financial elite circles.
