ETHIOPIA · CORRUPTION
Key Facts
- —What is happening Ethiopia has begun prosecuting 13 suspects over an alleged overseas jobs fraud involving forged competency certificates and visas, the Ministry of Justice announced on Friday 23 October 2026.
- —Why it matters Authorities allege 81,236 people got job certificates without training and about 64,500 Ethiopians were sent to Jordan and other Arab states on forged visas, a migrant safety and corruption concern.
- —The numbers Investigators traced more than 1.013 billion birr (about US$6.2 million), froze 249 million birr (about US$1.5 million) and froze US$965,508 converted into cryptocurrency, now held by the central bank.
- —Who is who Berhanu Aleka Asgedom, a former project manager at the Ministry of Labor and Skills, is the lead defendant, and the Federal High Court in Addis Ababa hears the case; all are presumed innocent.
- —What to watch The next step is the formal reading of charges and the accused’s pleas, while police keep tracing accomplices and employment agencies that failed to return foreign currency; no hearing date is confirmed.
- —What it means for you For US readers the case links migrant labor brokering, forged documents and cryptocurrency, and it tests Ethiopia’s anti-corruption drive, which matters to US investors, donors and Ethiopian American families.
Ethiopia says 13 people face prosecution over an alleged overseas jobs fraud, with more than 1.013 billion birr (about US$6.2 million) traced. The case was announced on Friday 23 October 2026.
Ethiopia has begun prosecuting 13 people over an alleged overseas jobs fraud, with more than 1.013 billion birr (about US$6.2 million) traced. Fana Media Corporation, an Ethiopian broadcaster, reported the Ministry of Justice announcement on Friday 23 October 2026.
Authorities allege 81,236 people got job certificates without proper training. They also allege about 64,500 Ethiopians went to Jordan and Arab states on forged visas.
What the Overseas Jobs Fraud Case Alleges
The case centres on the Ethiopian Labour Market Information System, known as ELMIS, a platform under the Ministry of Labor and Skills. Ethiopians heading abroad need a Certificate of Competency, called a COC, which the system issues online.
Fana says the project ran outside set procedures and launched without quality checks. Three people who were not ministry employees allegedly received special administrator rights.
Those users allegedly let 81,236 people obtain certificates without meeting education and training standards. Ethiopia Today says departing workers paid for the approvals.
Fana also says limits on agencies that failed to return foreign currency were lifted for bribes of 10.1 million birr (about US$62,000). Investigators are still looking for other agencies that did not remit foreign currency.
The Money Trail and Seized Assets
Fana says investigators traced more than 1.013 billion birr (about US$6.2 million) through two allegedly fraudulent bank accounts. Another 249 million birr (about US$1.5 million) was frozen in one bank account.
A separate US$965,508, converted into cryptocurrency, was frozen by court order and moved to the National Bank of Ethiopia, the central bank. Fidel Post, an Ethiopian news site, gives the same figure.
The charge sheet gives a different tally. Ethiopia Today and Birr Metrics say prosecutors accuse the former project manager of unlawful gains of 1,134,609,241.93 birr (about US$7.0 million).
Prosecutors cite six Addis Ababa homes worth 223.65 million birr (about US$1.4 million) and a car worth 68.14 million birr (about US$419,000). Ethiopia Today says the homes are in the names of the manager and his wife.
Who Is Charged and Where the Case Stands
Prosecutors charged 13 defendants with 16 counts at the Federal High Court in Addis Ababa, say Ethiopia Today and Birr Metrics. The accused are presumed innocent, and Ethiopia Today dated its report Tuesday 20 October 2026.
Berhanu Aleka Asgedom, the former manager of the labour market project office, faces four counts, including grand corruption and money laundering. The reports give no plea and no response from him.
Ermias Teklu, a former senior ministry official for overseas employment, is charged over 64,091 departures to Jordan on forged visas. That count differs slightly from the roughly 64,500 in the Ministry’s announcement.
Birr Metrics says one named co-accused was still at large when prosecutors issued their statement. Fidel Post says federal authorities are still tracing other accomplices.
Who Investigated the Case
Fana lists the Federal Police, the Ministry of Justice, the national intelligence service and the Information Network Security Administration as investigators. It also names the Financial Intelligence Center and the National Bank of Ethiopia.
The Information Network Security Administration is Ethiopia’s government cyber security agency. The National Intelligence and Security Service is the country’s main intelligence body.
Families whose relatives travelled abroad and lost contact are asked to come forward, says Fana. They can use the Federal Police EFP app, the toll-free number 991 or a police station.
What It Means for US Readers
The case combines migrant labor, forged documents and cryptocurrency, areas where US compliance teams and policy analysts pay close attention. No US agency has commented in the sources read.
Ethiopian Americans with relatives working in Jordan or other Gulf states should confirm that any certificate or visa is genuine. The case alleges that forged visas were used for tens of thousands of departures.
For investors and donors, prosecuting former officials is a test of Ethiopia’s anti-corruption drive. The frozen US$965,508 shows the central bank is now holding seized digital assets.
What Is Not Known
The Ministry of Justice’s own statement could not be read, because its website blocks automated access. The announcement figures here rest on Fana Media Corporation and Fidel Post, which agree on the main numbers.
Two tallies differ: 1.013 billion birr (about US$6.2 million) traced against 1.134 billion birr (about US$7.0 million) in the charge sheet. The people sent to Jordan also differ, at 64,500 against 64,091.
Fana says each of six houses is valued at 55 to 68 million birr (about US$338,000 to US$418,000). The charge sheet puts all six at 223.65 million birr (about US$1.4 million), which this article uses.
The reports give no response from the accused. Ethiopia Today lists an adjournment to 21 October 2025, probably a typo, and no hearing outcome has been reported.
US$ values use 162.53 birr per US$1 (open.er-api.com, 23 October 2026). The central bank’s own daily rate was not used.
What Comes Next
The court is due to read the charges to the 13 accused and hear their pleas, says Ethiopia Today. No hearing date is confirmed and no outcome has been reported.
Police say they are still tracing accomplices and agencies that did not return foreign currency. More charges or asset freezes could follow, but none is announced.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is ELMIS?
ELMIS is the Ethiopian Labour Market Information System, a digital platform under the Ministry of Labor and Skills. It issues the online competency certificates that Ethiopians need before working abroad.
How many people are charged?
Thirteen people face 16 counts at the Federal High Court in Addis Ababa. They are presumed innocent, and no verdict has been reached.
How much money is involved?
Fana’s report of the announcement says investigators traced more than 1.013 billion birr (about US$6.2 million). The charge sheet alleges 1.134 billion birr (about US$7.0 million) in unlawful gains by the former project manager.
What happened to the cryptocurrency?
US$965,508 converted into cryptocurrency was frozen under a court order. It was then transferred to the National Bank of Ethiopia.
Can families report missing relatives?
Yes, the Federal Police ask families to use the EFP app, the toll-free number 991 or a police station. This covers relatives who travelled abroad and lost contact.
Sources: Fana Media Corporation, 23 October 2026; Fidel Post, 23 October 2026; Ethiopia Today, 20 October 2026; Birr Metrics, 21 October 2026; exchange rates, open.er-api.com (all accessed 23 October 2026).
This article was produced by The Rio Times’ automated newsroom system. How we use AI · Report an error · Editorial responsibility: Matthias Camenzind, Editor-in-Chief
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