A former United States government contractor has pleaded guilty to conspiring to provide classified national defence information to Ethiopian officials, in a case that has raised serious concerns about the protection of sensitive intelligence and its potential use in military operations.
The defendant, 54-year-old Abraham Teklu Lemma, admitted sharing classified information with senior Ethiopian government officials between 2021 and his arrest in August 2023.
Lemma previously worked with several US government agencies, including the State Department, the Department of Justice and the National Reconnaissance Office. His access to sensitive government information placed him in a position to obtain material connected to US national security.
According to the information provided in the case, an FBI official said Ethiopian authorities used intelligence supplied by Lemma in military operations. However, the specific operations in which the information was allegedly used, as well as whether the disclosures resulted in casualties, have not been publicly established.
How the Intelligence Was Obtained and Shared
According to court documents released by the US Department of Justice, Lemma held a Top Secret security clearance and used his position as an information technology administrator to access classified government systems.
Prosecutors said he collected and transmitted dozens of classified documents, notes, photographs and other materials to Ethiopian government officials. Some of the information carried the Top Secret/Sensitive Compartmented Information (TS/SCI) classification, one of the highest levels of US government secrecy.
Investigators said Lemma used different methods to remove the information from secure government facilities. These included copying electronic records from classified repositories and writing sensitive information by hand before carrying the notes outside secure locations.
The information was reportedly shared with senior officials in Ethiopia’s political, military and intelligence institutions.
Prosecutors also presented messages showing that Lemma encouraged Ethiopian contacts to take action against paramilitary groups fighting the government.
In one message dated December 18, 2021, he urged his contact to eliminate the fighters, arguing that doing so was necessary to achieve peace. Later that day, after sharing additional information, he wrote, “Please send Dro[nes].”
The messages formed part of the evidence describing the nature of his relationship with Ethiopian officials and the potential military purpose of the information he supplied.
United States Department of Justice+2
Intelligence Was Used in Military Operations, FBI Says
The FBI said Lemma admitted that Ethiopian officials used the intelligence he supplied in military operations during the country’s armed conflict.
Roman Rozhavsky, an FBI counterintelligence official, said the information provided by Lemma reached Ethiopian authorities and was subsequently used in military activities.
However, US authorities have not publicly identified the specific operations in which the intelligence was used. They have also not confirmed whether the disclosures directly resulted in deaths or injuries.
The Ethiopian government had not issued a public statement on the case in the reporting available following Lemma’s guilty plea.
The case highlights the security risks associated with individuals who have authorised access to sensitive government information, particularly when their positions allow them to retrieve material from secure computer systems.
It also demonstrates how classified intelligence can have consequences beyond the country where it originates when it is shared with foreign governments involved in armed conflicts.
United States Department of Justice+2
Case Linked to Ethiopia’s Tigray War
The intelligence disclosures began during Ethiopia’s 2020–2022 war between federal government forces and fighters from the Tigray region.
The conflict caused a major humanitarian crisis, with widespread displacement, food shortages and disruption to healthcare services.
Researchers at Belgium’s Ghent University estimated that approximately 500,000 people died as a result of violence, famine and the collapse of health services during the conflict.
A peace agreement signed in Pretoria, South Africa, in November 2022 formally ended the major fighting between the federal government and the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF).
However, the region has continued to experience political and security tensions. The conflict also left deep humanitarian and economic challenges that have affected communities across northern Ethiopia.
The timing of Lemma’s activities is particularly significant because much of the classified information he shared reportedly concerned the armed conflict.
US prosecutors said he wanted Ethiopian officials to use the intelligence against paramilitary groups fighting the government.
ABC News+2
Lemma Faces Up to Nearly 22 Years in Prison
Lemma pleaded guilty on November 3, 2026, to conspiracy to transmit national defence information to a foreign government.
Under the plea agreement, he agreed to a prison sentence ranging from 120 to 262 months, equivalent to 10 years to 21 years and 10 months, if the court accepts the agreement.
Senior Judge John D. Bates scheduled his sentencing for April 14, 2027.
The investigation was conducted by the FBI’s Washington Field Office. The prosecution involves attorneys from the US Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia and the Justice Department’s National Security Division.
The case is being treated as a serious national security matter because of the level of information involved and the alleged use of the material by a foreign government.
A Warning Over the Protection of Classified Information
Lemma’s guilty plea highlights the importance of protecting sensitive information within government institutions.
US agencies rely on security clearances, restricted computer systems and strict procedures to prevent unauthorised access to national defence information. However, the case demonstrates that individuals with legitimate access can still create serious security risks if they misuse their positions.
The potential consequences extend beyond diplomatic relations. Intelligence shared with a foreign military during an armed conflict can influence operational decisions and potentially affect people on the ground.
For Ethiopia, the case has also drawn attention to its relationship with foreign intelligence sources during a period of intense internal conflict.
As Lemma awaits sentencing, US authorities have made clear that the case will be pursued as a major breach of national security.
The final sentence will depend on the court’s consideration of the plea agreement and the circumstances of the offence.
