The devastating two-year civil war killed hundreds of thousands of people and displaced millions
An Ethiopian-born American national has admitted leaking sensitive United States intelligence to Ethiopian government officials, including military information intended to support operations against fighters from the Tigray region during the country’s civil war.
Abraham Teklu Lemma, 54, a former US government contractor, pleaded guilty to conspiring to disclose national defence secrets to a foreign administration, according to the Department of Justice.
Investigators established that he supplied dozens of confidential records and photographs to high-ranking Ethiopian political, military and intelligence officials over a period exceeding two years.
Lemma previously served as a contractor for the State Department, Justice Department and National Reconnaissance Office, which oversees American intelligence satellite operations.
Between 2021 and his arrest in August 2023, he allegedly exploited his administrative privileges to obtain restricted government information.
He reportedly copied sensitive records into handwritten notes, removed documents from protected premises and extracted electronic files.
Much of the material concerned Ethiopia’s armed conflict and contained satellite photographs alongside details of military movements and activities. These were reportedly transmitted to Ethiopian contacts through encrypted communications.
American prosecutors disclosed that Ethiopian authorities subsequently relied on some of the intelligence during military operations. Lemma allegedly intended to help government forces locate and eliminate armed groups from Tigray.
Court documents also revealed disturbing exchanges between the defendant and Ethiopian officials. In December 2021, he reportedly expressed support for eliminating the fighters, insisting that doing so was necessary to achieve lasting peace.
On the same day, he provided additional classified material and encouraged an official to deploy drones.
US Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro condemned his conduct, describing it as a serious betrayal of national security, his professional obligations and fellow employees.
Assistant Attorney General for National Security John Eisenberg also criticised the defendant for abusing his privileged access to highly sensitive government information.
Lemma was apprehended in Maryland in August 2023 following an FBI investigation into the unauthorised handling of classified records.
Earlier allegations indicated that he had removed security classifications from intelligence reports before forwarding information to a foreign representative.
His guilty plea carries a potential prison sentence of up to 22 years under an agreement reached with prosecutors.
The case highlights the security implications of intelligence disclosures during Ethiopia’s devastating 2020–2022 civil war, which claimed hundreds of thousands of lives and forced millions from their homes.
The conflict was characterised by allegations of mass killings, sexual assaults and widespread violence against civilians.
Although the opposing parties signed a peace accord in November 2022, tensions persisted, with renewed clashes reported in September amid mutual accusations of breaching the settlement.
Lemma is expected to appear for sentencing on 14 April 2027.
By: Magdalene Agyeiwaa Sarpong