U.S. Contractor Pleads Guilty to Passing Classified Intelligence to Ethiopia

On November 3, contractor Lemma pleaded guilty to conspiring to pass highly classified intelligence to Ethiopian officials. Prosecutors allege the material included satellite and military intelligence related to the conflict, was used in operations, and that Lemma urged a conspirator to “send drones”; the specific operations and effects remain unclear. Sentencing is scheduled for April 2027, subject to court acceptance of the plea agreement.