By Islam El-Sakka
A former U.S. government contractor pleaded guilty Tuesday to conspiring to transmit national defense information to Ethiopia, admitting he provided classified intelligence used in military operations against rebel forces, the Justice Department said.
Details of the Case
Abraham Teklu Lemma, 54, of Silver Spring, Maryland, worked as an information technology contractor at the State Department, Justice Department, and National Reconnaissance Office. Prosecutors said he supplied secrets to senior Ethiopian officials for more than two years, urging them to deploy drones against fighters battling the government.
Intelligence Transfers and Impact
According to prosecutors, the information reached Ethiopia’s military and intelligence branches between 2021 and August 2023. An FBI affidavit alleged Lemma sent top-secret satellite imagery and classified reports through an encrypted messaging application to Ethiopian government operatives. The disclosures began during Ethiopia’s 2020–2022 war between federal forces and Tigrayan fighters, in which researchers estimated 500,000 civilians died.
Plea Agreement and Sentencing
Lemma’s plea agreement provides for a prison term of between 10 years and 21 years and 10 months, subject to court acceptance. He is scheduled to be sentenced on April 14, 2027.
