Betrayed and Displaced: How Ethiopia’s System Failed Gelete Burka

By LJDemissie
June 10, 2025

Introduction

The case of Gelete Burka, one of Ethiopia’s most celebrated athletes, exemplifies the systemic failures that stripped her of her rights and hard-earned assets.

In her interview on Seifu on EBS (June 9, 2025), she detailed the devastating consequences of trusting the legal system, revealing how she lost nearly all of her hard-earned assets. Now, with no legal avenues left to pursue, Geleta faces homelessness unless the Ethiopian government or the public intervenes. This is not just her battle—it is a systemic failure that demands urgent reform. Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, known for championing modernization, has the opportunity to lead meaningful change

Gelete’s Story: From Triumph to Crisis

Raised in poverty by a mother who survived on leftovers from churches and mosques, Gelete overcame hardship to become a world-renowned marathon runner. She represented Ethiopia in the 2008 Beijing Olympics and the 2012 London Olympics, competing in the 1500m event. Her dedication brought Ethiopia global recognition, winning medals, securing prize money, and earning government-awarded properties as a national honor.

She married in 2002 (Ethiopian Calendar, 2009/2010 Gregorian) and entrusted her husband with power of attorney, allowing him to manage her 11 houses and six cars, including her government-gifted home.

In 2010 (Ethiopian Calendar, 2017/2018 Gregorian), he vanished without warning, leaving only a cryptic note about visiting a “miracle water” site—an act inconsistent with their Pentecostal faith. Confused, she sought answers, but instead faced intimidation, including a threatening phone call warning her not to report his disappearance to the police.

Eight months later, she was served divorce papers, seeing her husband for the first time since his disappearance in court. The court granted the divorce and, citing the power of attorney, awarded him all but one of her properties and five of her six cars.

Gelete fully furnished the government-gifted house at her own expense before moving her mother-in-law from her shintne home, allowing her to live rent-free. However, her ex-husband later sold the house to his mother for 200,000 birr (approximately $1,440 USD)—far below its market value. He claimed the money was spent, leaving Gelete with nothing.

Meanwhile, her bank account, once holding 1 million birr (approximately $7,200 USD), had been depleted to just 50,000 birr (approximately $360 USD), despite her formal requests to revoke his access.

Systemic Failures: The Key Issues

Gelete’s case exposes deep flaws in Ethiopian legal protections and financial systems:

1. Unregulated Power of Attorney
   1. Ethiopian law grants broad powers of attorney, but lacks oversight mechanisms to prevent abuse.
   2. Her ex-husband sold her properties without informing her, yet the courts upheld the transactions.
   3. Legal technicalities trumped moral justice, leaving her financially ruined.
2. Banking System Negligence
   1. Despite her formal request to restrict her ex-husband’s access, the bank continued allowing withdrawals.
   2. Their excuse—that her request was not a “legal document”—highlights a failure in financial accountability, leaving her defenseless.
3. Judicial Blindspots & Gender Disparity
   1. Ethiopian courts often prioritize contractual legality over ethical considerations, disproportionately affecting women entrusting financial management to spouses.
   2. Marriage is a deeply rooted cultural institution, and many Ethiopian women depend on spouses for property management—but when betrayal occurs, the legal system offers little protection.

Why Prime Minister Abiy Must Act

Gelete’s appeal to Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed and the Ethiopian people is a desperate plea for survival. With all legal avenues exhausted, her only hope is government intervention or public mobilization.

Her case is not just a personal tragedy—it is proof of a systemic failure that could affect countless others. Ethiopia must modernize its legal frameworks and implement critical reforms to prevent future injustices:

1. Strengthen Oversight of Powers of Attorney
   1. Implement mandatory reporting requirements for high-value transactions conducted under power of attorney.
   2. Require third-party verification before allowing spouses to sell assets without direct consent.
2. Enhance Banking Protections
   1. Banks must immediately honor revocation requests from account holders.
   2. There must be clear legal consequences for financial institutions that fail to protect assets from unauthorized withdrawals.
3. Support Vulnerable Litigants
   1. Expand access to quality legal aid, ensuring fair representation for individuals facing financial disputes.
   2. Address judicial inefficiencies that disproportionately disadvantage individuals with limited legal knowledge.
4. Promote Gender Equity in Family Law
   1. Courts should evaluate financial exploitation alongside contractual legality, ensuring fairer rulings in divorce-related asset disputes.
   2. Introduce special protections for women in cases of financial abuse or asset manipulation.

Conclusion: A Case That Must Not Be Ignored

Gelete’s achievements have brought immense honor to Ethiopia, yet her struggle highlights serious weaknesses in the nation’s legal and financial systems. Her plight is not just about lost assets—it is about survival. Without intervention, she will soon be homeless, a devastating fate for a national icon.

Prime Minister Abiy has the opportunity to ensure this does not happen—not by overturning court rulings, but by championing reforms that protect Ethiopian citizens from similar legal pitfalls.

Gelete’s courage in speaking out—despite threats and personal loss—must ignite a movement to strengthen Ethiopia’s commitment to justice, fairness, and accountability. The government and Ethiopian people must not ignore her plea.

The writer, LJDemissie, can be reached at LJDemissie@yahoo.com or @LJDemissie on X.