Djibouti authorities release and deport South African journalist Micah Reddy

Djiboutian authorities have released South African journalist Micah Reddy and deported him from the country, according to a statement released on Tuesday, September 22, 2026. Reddy and his local fixer, Kooki Mahmoud, were detained on September 19 after arriving in Djibouti without proper accreditation. The Ministry of the Interior cited Reddy's engagement in activities not aligned with his stated reasons for the visit as the reason for his arrest.

Reddy's relatives and colleagues had declared them missing upon losing contact with them around the time of their arrest. Both Reddy and Mahmoud are now out of custody, with Mahmoud released without charge. The journalist's family expressed deep concern over the uncertainty and lengthy wait for information about the detained men's welfare. Despite efforts by the family, media organizations, diplomatic representatives, and press freedom groups, direct confirmation of their condition was not possible.

Micah Reddy, a respected South African investigative journalist, was not in Djibouti to report on the country or its government at the time of his detention. He is the Africa Coordinator of the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists (ICIJ). The family thanked various governments, diplomatic missions, and multilateral bodies for their efforts in establishing Reddy's whereabouts and securing information about his welfare. They also extended gratitude to Reddy's employers at the ICIJ.