Former US contractor admits sharing intelligence with Ethiopia during war

Abraham Teklu Lemma, an Ethiopian-born US citizen and former government contractor, has pleaded guilty to passing highly classified intelligence to Ethiopian officials. Prosecutors say he hoped the information would help identify and kill Tigrayan fighters during Ethiopia’s 2020–22 civil war, raising serious questions about the exposure of sensitive US intelligence during the conflict.

Over more than two years, Lemma shared dozens of classified documents and photographs, including satellite imagery and details of military activity, using encrypted messages. The FBI said Ethiopian officials later used information he supplied in military operations. Lemma, 54, faces up to 22 years in prison under a plea agreement, with sentencing scheduled for 14 April 2027; the war killed hundreds of thousands and displaced millions.