South African journalist Micah Reddy reportedly missing in Djibouti

South African investigative journalist Micah Reddy and his local fixer, Kooki Mahmoud, have vanished in Djibouti, prompting the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) to urgently demand authorities locate the pair and confirm their safety. The CPJ expressed deep concern on September 20th after reports indicated that Reddy and Mahmoud could no longer be reached.

Both had journeyed to Djibouti to report on local happenings. Subsequent communication with the duo was lost in recent days. The CPJ urged Djiboutian officials to swiftly disclose their whereabouts and verify their well-being, emphasizing that journalists should be allowed to operate without fear of disappearance or interference.

Reddy, based in Johannesburg, serves as the Africa coordinator for the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists (ICIJ) and previously worked at the amaBhungane Centre for Investigative Journalism and the Right2Know Campaign. The specifics surrounding Reddy and Mahmoud's disappearance remain unclear, though the CPJ asserts they were in Djibouti for journalistic purposes.

The organization has not stated that the pair were arrested or abducted; instead, it called for authorities to determine their status and ensure their security. Djibouti is grappling with a surge of individuals fleeing turmoil in Yemen, with over 2,350 people arriving by September 12th, many of them children. CPJ intends to keep a close watch on the evolving situation.

As of now, no official explanation has been offered for the communication lapse between Reddy and Mahmoud.