US contractor gave Ethiopia secrets to help kill Tigray fighters
A former US government contractor, Abraham Teklu Lemma, has pleaded guilty to leaking classified intelligence to Ethiopian officials. The leaked information, which included satellite imagery, was used to target fighters during the Tigray civil war.
Why it matters
This case represents a significant breach of national security and highlights the risks associated with insider threats in intelligence agencies.
Share Save Add as preferred on Google Wycliffe Muia AFP via Getty Images The devastating two-year civil war killed hundreds of thousands of people and displaced millions An Ethiopian-born American citizen has pleaded guilty to passing highly classified intelligence to Ethiopia, including information he hoped would help target and kill fighters from the Tigray region during the country's 2020-22 civil war.
Abraham Teklu Lemma, a former US contractor, admitted sharing dozens of classified documents and photographs with senior Ethiopian officials over more than two years, the US Department of Justice said.
"In doing so, he betrayed his oath, his colleagues, and his country, while jeopardizing our national security," said US Attorney for the District of Columbia Jeanine Ferris Pirro.
The 54-year-old faces up to 22 years in prison under a plea agreement.
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