Sultan Bin Sulayem: Ten Years of African Ports

On June 25, 2010, Sol Kerzner's office emailed Jeffrey Epstein. The casino king of South Africa wanted a meeting (EFTA02411125-0). The contact had come at Sultan Bin Sulayem's direction.

Kerzner never released the numbers Sultan had promised. On July 21, 2010, Epstein forwarded the meeting reminder to himself with a single annotation: "nevergot any numbers" (EFTA01814737-0). Sultan texted the same day: "I think sol will give the instruction to release the numbers after he meets you" (EFTA02409279-0).

July 2012. Epstein wrote to Sultan: "I hope your ramadan is easy, I can set up standard and you for ivory coast, whenever you like" (EFTA01876197-0). Ten months later Sultan wrote from a helicopter: "I am now in a helicopter flying from aktao Khazakistan to Ashgabat turkomanistan accompanying the president to inaugurate the new rail connection between china and cis countries we have signed a deal to manage the logistics China is investing $400 B to build a new industrial city on the border" (EFTA01975989-0). Epstein had replied earlier that morning: "I will be with bill gates Paris , 9-10 June then free" (EFTA01975812-0).

Days later Sultan reported back from the continent. "Just arrived from Africa, had a great and very successful trip to Congo Kinshasa, Gabon, Rwanda. I met President Kabila and discussed port investment which he welcomes. He wants to give us investment in mining and oil and gas. I mentioned to him that I have an American fund manager who will visit with me next time" (EFTA01759560-0). He also reported meeting "my friend Ali Bongo" in Gabon. The American fund manager is not named in the archive. Epstein was the only American in the thread.

March 26, 2012. Macky Sall wins the Senegalese runoff. Sultan forwards Epstein the BBC report the same day (EFTA01770297-0). Abdoulaye Wade had been Epstein's principal Senegal access for two years. Wade was now out. Six weeks later Sultan flew into Dakar at 7 a.m. and emailed Epstein from the airport on his way out: "I am in Dakar had an excellent meeting with both new president and prime minister spoke to Karim on phone but didn't have time to meet him I arrived at 7 am and went into several meetings now Ifs 6:46 pm I am heading to airport" (vol00009-efta00671985-pdf-0). Eleven hours, two heads of state, Karim Wade kept at phone-call distance.

At those Dakar meetings Sultan pitched a bank. Two weeks later Cheikh Kante, Chairman of the Port of Dakar, was chasing him for the summary: "I am still waiting for the summary of the bank project advised by the Sultan during our meeting with the President Macky Sall at Dakar" (EFTA01882968-0). Sultan forwarded the chase to Epstein with a line: "I think me and you should visit Senegal again" (EFTA01882968-0). Epstein answered: "lets talk about it" (EFTA01883293-0).

April 9, 2013. Sultan messaged Epstein from Nairobi: "I am in Nairobi attending the inauguration of Uhuru Kenyatta as a president of Kenya whom I know very well" (EFTA01895934-0). Epstein replied within minutes: "great guy, lets vist there toghetr in june" (EFTA01896493-0). Eighteen months later Sultan was back, this time from Mombasa: "I am in Mombasa had a three hour meeting with president Uhuru Kenyata we are going to build a big logistic park to serve Kenya south Sudan Uganda central African republic and Rawanda Sultan" (EFTA02339105-0). Five countries on one three-hour meeting. Epstein had no DP World role and no Africa portfolio.

June 5, 2018. Sultan emailed Jide Zeitlin, chair of Nigeria's sovereign wealth fund and a Goldman partner. DP World had been trying to enter Nigerian ports since 2005. Sultan walked Zeitlin through thirteen years of failed attempts, two previous presidents met, every deal collapsed on currency terms or industrial-park add-ons he refused. "there is no benefit for us to create an industrial zone to produce cargo for someone else's port" (vol00009-efta01041715-pdf-3). Zeitlin forwarded the exchange to Epstein with a different message: "Your pal does not get it. I am not a shopkeeper in a souk or on Old Bond Street trying to sell him a trinket" (vol00009-efta01041715-pdf-0).

The deal stalled. On June 8, 2018, Epstein told Sultan that Barack Obama's former White House Counsel, Kathy Ruemmler, was a close buddy (vol00009-efta01038618-pdf-0). On June 9 he followed with the Emir of Kano, Muhammad Sanusi II, former Central Bank Governor of Nigeria (vol00009-efta01039400-pdf-0). The deal never closed.

Three months later Djibouti nationalized DP World's main East African hub. Zeitlin wrote to Epstein: "I hope your pal's sojourn in Tel Aviv was more effective than his efforts on the African continent" (EFTA02624197-0).

January 23, 2019. Sultan emailed Epstein from Davos: "Have a crazy hectic schedule I leave davos tomorrow stay one night in Dubai fly to Eriteria then Jedda attending a DPW agreement signing in the presence of the crown prince Then fly to Uganda and Tanzania" (vol00009-efta01027677-pdf-0). Four stops. The Saudi crown prince Mohammed bin Salman at the Jeddah signing. Eritrea and Tanzania extending the same East African corridor as the Mombasa park. By evening Sultan was back with: "Amazing had a great meeting with Ethiopea PM" (vol00009-efta01027677-pdf-0). The Ethiopian prime minister was Abiy Ahmed, nine months into the premiership that would win him the Nobel Peace Prize.

Epstein was arrested at Teterboro five months and two weeks later. Sultan Ahmed Bin Sulayem resigned as DP World chairman on February 13, 2026, fourteen days after the DOJ public release of the Epstein files.