South African journalist Micah Reddy has been released and is safe after being deported from Djibouti, according to his brother, Niall Reddy.
The Committee to Protect Journalists says Djibouti authorities claimed Reddy did not have the required media accreditation. His fixer, Kooki Mahmoud, has also reportedly been released without charge. Reddy is expected to return to Johannesburg.
Breaking news: South African journalist Micah Reddy is free and safe. He was deported from Djibouti, according to his brother Niall Reddy.
Authorities claim he did not have proper media accreditation. He will return to Johannesburg soon. His fixer, Kooki Mahmoud, is apparently… pic.twitter.com/qH9C9b14V2— CPJ Africa (@CPJAfrica) September 22, 2026
The CPJ’s Regional Director for Africa, Angela Quintal, expressed relief, but slammed the authorities for detaining Reddy.
“Four days in secretive intelligence custody is unacceptable treatment of an investigative journalist. CPJ welcomes the overdue release of Micah Reddy and Kooki Mahmoud, but serious questions remain about their detention and Djibouti’s opaque accreditation process. Djibouti’s strategic importance should invite greater scrutiny, not excuse censorship and intimidation.”
Earlier this week, the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists (ICIJ) advised that Reddy may have been arrested.
In its updated statement, the ICIJ said it was informed that Reddy may have been arrested for not obtaining media accreditation.
“ICIJ has been informed that Reddy is believed to be in custody for failing to obtain media accreditation. It is understood Ismael [Mohamed Willo Ismael (“Kooki Mahmoud”)] is also being held in custody by Djiboutian authorities,” read the ICIJ statement.
There were concerns for Reddy’s safety after he and a local he had been travelling with, identified as Kooki Mahmoud, had not been heard from since Saturday, 19 September. It’s believed the pair were on assignment in the area.
The South African National Editors Forum is among many in the journalism fraternity who expressed concern about their disappearance.
A Djiboutian radio station and news outlet, La Voix De Djibouti, shared the news of Reddy’s disappearance over the weekend.
“He was staying at the Escale International hotel and had been in Djibouti since Thursday. ICJI and the editorial team of his newspaper have had no news of him since 6 am (East time) this morning. He was accompanied by a local fixer named Kooki Mahmoud who is also missing,” read the outlet’s statement.
It is not clear for which story Reddy had traveled to the East African country for.
*This article has been updated to include the latest known information on the matter.
