Newly released documents from the Jeffrey Epstein case have shed light on the role of Nina Keita, niece of Côte d'Ivoire (Ivory Coast) President Alassane Ouattara, who allegedly served as a key go-between for the convicted sex offender. The correspondence, spanning hundreds of emails between 2011 and 2018, shows Keita facilitating introductions to powerful figures, including government officials, and to young women at Epstein's request.
The revelations stem from a massive trove of over three million pages of Epstein-related documents released by the U.S. Department of Justice on January 30, 2026. Nina Keita's name appears frequently—reports cite over 300 mentions in some analyses—highlighting her extensive interactions with Epstein. Keita, now 44, is a former model who once worked as an advisor to Côte d'Ivoire's Budget Minister Abdourahmane Cissé (2014-2016). She is married to current Employment Minister Adama Kamara and holds a senior position at Gestoci, the state-run oil fund management company in Abidjan.
According to reporting by French newspaper Le Monde, published February 13, 2026, Keita and Epstein maintained a close relationship that began years earlier. Epstein reportedly knew her since at least 2002, when she was a young fashion model associated with agencies like Karin Models in Paris. Their communications included career advice, personal exchanges, and logistical arrangements.
In 2011, shortly after Alassane Ouattara's election as president, Keita introduced her uncle to Epstein during a meeting in New York. She later organized a follow-up visit for Epstein to Abidjan in 2012, where he met several sitting ministers to discuss potential investment projects. The documents suggest Keita helped coordinate these engagements, including booking hotel suites for Epstein.
The correspondence takes a more troubling turn in exchanges involving young women. Epstein repeatedly expressed preferences for introductions to attractive women, with one email specifying a desire for those "under 25." In one instance from 2011, Epstein asked Keita for "a very cute friend in NY for next week." She responded playfully but agreed to look. Later exchanges reference a woman named "Sadia," whom Epstein met at the Ritz hotel in Paris on August 31, 2011. Keita described her as "easygoing, not complicated, nice." When Epstein was unenthusiastic, he pressed for photos of Sadia's younger sister, reiterating his preference for younger individuals. Keita complied by sending a photograph of the sister a week later.
The documents do not confirm that any encounters involved minors or illegal activities during these specific introductions, nor do they establish direct evidence of coercion or underage involvement in the cited exchanges. However, the pattern aligns with Epstein's documented history of seeking out young women through intermediaries.
Keita also leveraged her connections for other favors. Reports indicate she thanked Epstein for financial support and credited him with introducing her to her future husband. In broader context, Epstein's ties to Côte d'Ivoire extended to brokering security deals, including a 2014 agreement with Israel for surveillance technology, facilitated in part through figures like former Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak.
Keita has not publicly responded to the allegations as of the latest reports. The U.S. Department of Justice documents form part of ongoing scrutiny into Epstein's global network, which included high-profile figures across politics, business, and entertainment. Epstein died in custody in 2019 while awaiting trial on federal sex trafficking charges.
The case continues to generate international attention, with African media outlets and outlets like Le Monde, Daily Mail, and others highlighting the Ivorian dimension. These revelations add to the complex picture of Epstein's influence, even after his 2008 conviction for soliciting prostitution from an underage girl.
