US contractor admits spying for Ethiopia
The gist
Ethiopian-born US contractor Abraham Lemma pleaded guilty to passing classified secrets to Ethiopia's government.
The case overlaps with Ethiopia's northern war and a run of US leak cases.
How it unfolded
- 2021Lemma began conspiring with senior Ethiopian government officials, collecting and transmitting dozens of highly classified documents, notes, materials and photographs.
- Dec 18, 2021Lemma urged a conspirator to act against paramilitary groups fighting Ethiopia's government, writing 'We have to finish these people once and for all,' and later asked 'Please send Dro[nes].'
- Aug 2023Lemma was arrested; an FBI affidavit alleged he sent top-secret satellite imagery and classified reports through an encrypted messaging app to Ethiopian government operatives.