Micah Reddy, a South African investigative journalist and Africa coordinator at the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists (ICIJ), was released by Djiboutian authorities on Tuesday, 22 September 2026 and has flown out of the country, his family and the ICIJ said.
Held in custody after disappearance from hotel
Reddy and his local fixer, identified as Kooki Mahmoud, disappeared from the Escale International Hotel in Djibouti City at about 1pm on Saturday, 19 September 2026, the family said. For two days their whereabouts were unknown, prompting concern from colleagues and media-rights groups.
On Tuesday the family announced that both men had been released and that Reddy was “on his way back to South Africa, unharmed.” The family statement said Mahmoud had also been freed without charge.
“It is with immense relief and delight that we share the news that he is on his way back to South Africa, unharmed,” the family said.
The ICIJ confirmed Reddy’s release and departure. The organisation said its staff raised the alarm within hours of the pair’s disappearance and that it had used diplomatic and other channels to ascertain Reddy’s status.
Accreditation cited as explanation; not reporting on Djibouti, family says
Daily Maverick reported that Djiboutian authorities said Reddy had not obtained official media accreditation. The family, however, said that at the time he was detained he was not in Djibouti reporting on the country or its government.
The ICIJ said it understood the South African, British and US governments had assisted by contacting Djiboutian authorities to determine Reddy’s whereabouts. According to the ICIJ, Djiboutian officials did not publicly confirm Reddy’s custody or provide access until the day of his release.
ICIJ director Gerard Ryle commented on the international response and the solidarity shown by press-freedom advocates, saying the widespread calls helped secure the men’s swift release, the ICIJ reported.
Timeline
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| 19 September 2026 | Reddy and Mahmoud disappear from Escale International Hotel, Djibouti City, about 1pm. |
| 21 September 2026 | ICIJ confirms unofficially, via diplomatic channels, that Reddy is in custody. |
| 22 September 2026 | Reddy and Mahmoud are released; Reddy departs Djibouti. |
Implications and unanswered questions
- Press freedom concerns: The detention of a foreign investigative journalist raises questions about access for international media and the treatment of reporters in Djibouti.
- Consular role: South African, British and US involvement in contacting Djiboutian authorities highlights the diplomatic dimension when nationals are detained abroad.
- Official explanation: At present, the only reported justification is failure to obtain media accreditation; authorities in Djibouti did not publicly confirm details before the release.
The family’s statement stressed relief at Reddy’s release and did not say whether Djiboutian authorities formally charged him or Mahmoud at any point. The ICIJ said it understood Mahmoud had also been freed but did not provide further details on any official processes while the men were held.
This account is based on statements from Reddy’s family and the ICIJ, and on reporting that cites diplomatic contacts and local authorities. Some details remain unclear and developments may follow as officials in Djibouti or diplomatic missions provide more information.
Reddy has worked on transnational investigations with the ICIJ. His release will be closely watched by media-rights organisations and South African authorities concerned with the safety of journalists working abroad.
