The heartbreaking case of Gelete Burka—one of Ethiopia’s most accomplished athletes—highlights a deep and disturbing failure within the country’s legal and financial institutions. Once celebrated on the world stage, Gelete now teeters on the edge of homelessness after being stripped of nearly everything she earned.
In a revealing interview aired on Seifu on EBS (June 9, 2025), Gelete recounted the devastating consequences of placing her trust in Ethiopia’s legal system. Despite a decorated career and numerous accolades, she now finds herself without recourse, her fortune gone, and her future uncertain. Her plea is not just personal—it is a call to fix a broken system.
From Global Acclaim to Personal Crisis
Born into poverty and raised by a single mother who survived on handouts from religious institutions, Gelete overcame tremendous odds to rise to international fame. She represented Ethiopia in the 2008 and 2012 Olympics and earned both medals and national honors, including government-awarded properties.
In 2002 (Ethiopian Calendar, 2009/2010 Gregorian), she married and granted her husband power of attorney, trusting him to manage her assets: 11 properties, six vehicles, and the home awarded to her by the state.
That trust proved disastrous. In 2010 (E.C. 2017/2018 G.C.), her husband vanished, leaving behind only a cryptic note about seeking “miracle water”—a behavior uncharacteristic of their Pentecostal beliefs. When she tried to find him, she was met with threats warning her against involving the police.
Eight months later, she was unexpectedly served with divorce papers. The court proceedings—her first encounter with her husband since his disappearance—ended in tragedy. Citing the power of attorney, the court awarded him nearly all her properties and vehicles, leaving her with just one car and one property.
Worse still, the house gifted by the government, which Gelete had renovated and allowed her mother-in-law to occupy rent-free, was sold by her ex-husband to his mother for a mere 200,000 birr (around $1,440 USD)—a fraction of its true value. He claimed the funds were gone.
At the same time, her bank account—once holding over 1 million birr (approximately $7,200 USD)—was drained to just 50,000 birr (about $360 USD), even though she had officially requested the bank to revoke her ex-husband’s access. The bank ignored her request, dismissing it as “not a legal document.”
A System that Failed Her
Gelete’s story is not an isolated tragedy but a stark illustration of systemic dysfunction:
Unregulated Powers of Attorney
Ethiopia’s laws offer sweeping authority under power of attorney, yet lack the safeguards necessary to prevent abuse. Courts routinely uphold transactions made under these agreements—even when they clearly violate ethical standards.
Banking Negligence
Despite Gelete’s formal request, the bank continued to permit unauthorized withdrawals, citing bureaucratic technicalities rather than protecting the account holder’s rights.
Judicial Gaps and Gender Inequality
Courts focused solely on legal documentation while ignoring the moral and contextual realities of the case. This disproportionately affects women in Ethiopia, where traditional marital dynamics often leave wives financially dependent on their husbands.
A Call for Reform
Gelete’s desperate appeal to Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed is not just about restoring her assets—it’s about preventing others from suffering the same fate. Ethiopia needs urgent, systemic reforms to protect its citizens:
- Regulate Powers of Attorney
- Introduce oversight and transparency for high-value transactions.
- Require joint consent for major asset transfers by spouses.
- Strengthen Banking Protections
- Mandate immediate enforcement of access revocation requests.
- Penalize institutions that ignore asset protection responsibilities.
- Improve Legal Access and Equity
- Expand legal aid for vulnerable individuals.
- Address procedural inefficiencies that disadvantage those unfamiliar with the legal system.
- Advance Gender Protections in Family Law
- Evaluate asset disputes with sensitivity to exploitation and abuse.
- Provide additional safeguards for women in financial arrangements within marriages.
A National Responsibility
Gelete Burka’s legacy brought pride and honor to Ethiopia. Her current plight—battling homelessness after years of service to her country—represents more than personal misfortune. It signals a failure that demands national attention and immediate reform.
Prime Minister Abiy, long an advocate for modernization, now has the chance to champion justice—not by overturning court decisions, but by creating laws that prevent such injustices from happening again.
Gelete’s courage in speaking out should inspire both the government and the Ethiopian public to act. Her story is a warning—and a rallying cry for a more just, accountable, and compassionate Ethiopia.
