US contractor gave Ethiopia secrets to help kill Tigray fighters
Abraham Teklu Lemma, a former US government contractor, has pleaded guilty to leaking classified intelligence to Ethiopian officials during the 2020 civil war. Prosecutors state he used his IT access to provide satellite imagery and military data intended to help target and kill paramilitary fighters.
Why it matters
This case underscores the severe national security risks posed by insider threats within intelligence agencies and the potential for such leaks to influence foreign military conflicts.
SCREENGRAB/BBC 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 during the country's 2020 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 Jeanine Ferris Pirro.
The 54-year-old faces up to 22 years in prison under a plea agreement, with sentencing scheduled for next April.
Abraham had worked as a contractor at the State Department, Justice Department and National Reconnaissance Office, the agency responsible for US intelligence satellites.
Prosecutors said Abraham worked with senior figures in Ethiopia's political, military and intelligence establishments between 2021 and his arrest in August 2023.
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