Djibouti: Djibouti Frees Top SA Investigative Journalist Micah Reddy

South African investigative journalist Micah Reddy, a member of the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists (ICIJ), was released from detention in Djibouti on Tuesday, 22 September 2026. He is now on his way back to South Africa, unharmed. His family announced the news, expressing immense relief and delight. Reddy had been detained since Saturday, 19 September 2026, without any official information about his whereabouts or condition being provided by Djiboutian authorities.

His family confirmed that his local fixer, Kooki Mahmoud, was also released without charge. The family speculated that Reddy was held because he had not obtained the required media accreditation to work in Djibouti, even though he was not reporting on the country at the time of his detention. The ICIJ, along with the South African, British, and US governments, had attempted to locate Reddy and secure information about his welfare.

Djibouti's Minister of the Interior, Omar Abdi Said, stated that Reddy had come to the country with the intention of carrying out assignments without the authorities' knowledge and had deliberately bypassed the accreditation process. Human rights groups, including the Committee to Protect Journalists, voiced their concerns about the unacceptable treatment of Reddy and called for greater scrutiny of Djibouti's accreditation process.

The family thanked various organizations and individuals for their support during the ordeal, emphasizing the importance of privacy while waiting for further updates on Micah's situation.