Somaliwood Studios, Bottled Water, and Bonemeal: Epstein's Somaliland Investment Pipeline

On August 9, 2012, someone in Epstein's circle sent an email with the subject line "i had a fun idea." The pitch was to build a film studio in Somaliland and call it Somaliwood Studios. The sender wrote: "What if we put together a small group that professionalized the African film industry. There is currently a small movement called Nollywood (in Nigeria) and the big boss there is a YGL. She was telling me how hard it was since no one knew how to de film." The solution: "we could build a small studio in Somaliland and called it SOMALIWOOD STUDIOS. Imagine the cool filming...beaches, desert, etc. We could invite muslim and all sorts of groups to film there" (EFTA01876256-0).

The pitch included children's programming: "Could do like Sesame Street type stuff (children's programming etc for African kids)." It claimed Somaliland had "serious tech ability" and proposed building a CGI facility. The sender copied Epstein: "I'm copying Jeffrey since he might also think this would be FUN FUN FUN." The sender's identity is redacted in the archive. No follow-up emails confirm the studio was pursued.

Somaliwood was not the only Somaliland business pitch that reached Epstein in 2012. On April 25, an associate emailed about Somaliland's water reserves: "there are huge water reserves, untapped ( and dean) near port city of berbera..direct access to Saudi market. Easy to ship. Minimal transport. Again Somaliland" A proposed company name appeared in a follow-up: "AfricEAU." Epstein responded the same day: "I like it" (EFTA01885124-0, EFTA01885540-0).

Three weeks later, Philippe von Stauffenberg wrote about broader Somaliland commercial plans. He proposed a solid waste business as a spinoff from a foundation, listing opportunities including "desalination, water bottling and of course bonemeal in Somaliland." He also mentioned building sustainable homes in Luanda, Angola, and homes in Chad. He wrote: "I think that outside of water and other opportunities in Africa we should seriously position the solid waste business soon as it is probably the most actionable from my end with real money that I can put behind that" (EFTA02555040-0).

These business pitches arrived in the same year Sultan Bin Sulayem was briefing Epstein on meetings with African heads of state and Epstein was running the Karim Wade relationship into Beijing and Paris.