Mogadishu (Kaab TV) – Documents released by the United States Department of Justice reveal that the late financier Jeffrey Epstein’s business and personal network closely examined economic opportunities and political issues related to Somaliland, particularly its strategic importance in the Horn of Africa.
The documents, which are part of millions of pages recently made public, include emails and written records that had remained confidential for more than a decade. They shed light on plans involving water exportation, oil exploration, media production, and matters connected to Somaliland’s quest for international recognition.
One email sent in 2012 refers to vast reserves of fresh water located near the port of Berbera. It proposed that a water-export company could be rapidly established in the area to ship water to Gulf countries, including Saudi Arabia.
Another email from the same year suggested the establishment of a film and media production hub in Somaliland under the name “Somaliwood Studios.” The proposal claimed the project could attract diverse groups and serve as a suitable location for family-friendly films and culturally based programming.
In addition, correspondence exchanged in 2013 discussed plans to secure nearly $50 million in funding to conduct oil exploration across three major regions of Somaliland, describing the prospects for oil as promising.
The documents also include a 2018 email exchange in which DP World Chairman Sultan Ahmed bin Sulayem shared a file with Jeffrey Epstein concerning the history and potential for Somaliland’s international recognition, indicating that the issue was being discussed in considerable depth.
Jeffrey Epstein, whose files have recently been released, was a wealthy financier involved in the sexual exploitation of minors and young women. He maintained connections with numerous global elites and business figures, some of whom were allegedly implicated in or linked to his criminal activities.