Micah freed: Djibouti frees top SA investigative journalist Micah Reddy

South African investigative journalist Micah Reddy of the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists was detained on Saturday, but is now on his way back to South Africa.

Micah Reddy, the South African investigative journalist who was detained by government authorities in Djibouti on Saturday, 19 September, was released on Tuesday and is on his way home to South Africa, unharmed.

His family announced this on Tuesday following two days of anxiety after he and his local fixer Kooki Mahmoud disappeared from their hotel in Djibouti at about 1pm on Saturday. Reddy’s family said in a statement that Mahmoud had also been released 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.

Reddy, a journalist and Africa Coordinator at the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists (ICIJ), had been held in the custody of Djiboutian authorities “from 1pm on Saturday, 19 September 2026”, the announcement added.

“Despite numerous efforts to establish his whereabouts and condition, no official information was provided until today,” the family said.

Though the family did not say if authorities gave any reason for his detention, Daily Maverick understands the explanation was that he had not applied for official media accreditation.

However, the family said, “At the time he was detained, he was not in Djibouti reporting on the country or its government.”

The ICIJ confirmed that Reddy had been released from custody and had flown out of the country on Tuesday. It said it understood Mahmoud was also free.

“ICIJ raised the alarm within hours of the two men’s disappearance from the Escale International Hotel in Djibouti City, when messages to the pair went unanswered. On 21 September, ICIJ confirmed unofficially through diplomatic and other channels that Reddy was in custody, understood to be held for failing to obtain proper media accreditation.”

It added that the South African, British and US governments assisted in contacting Djiboutian authorities for information.

“Djibouti authorities did not publicly confirm his whereabouts or provide access to Reddy until today.”

ICIJ director Gerard Ryle said, “The many calls for press freedom and for the men’s swift release are an example of the solidarity that matters when a journalist’s safety is put at risk.”

Djibouti’s Minister of the Interior Omar Abdi Said said in a statement that Reddy had come to Djibouti “with the intention of carrying out assignments without the knowledge of the authorities and had deliberately bypassed the requirement to hold the accreditation essential for any media professional wishing to work in Djibouti”.