CPJ Urges Djiboutian Authorities to Establish Whereabouts of Missing SA Journalist Micah Reddy
- The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) raised urgent concern after a South African journalist went missing
- Micah Reddy, a veteran investigative reporter, and his fixer went unreachable in Djibouti on Saturday, 19 September
- The CPJ has urged Djiboutian authorities to establish the whereabouts of the journalist and his fixer, Kooki Mahmoud
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Byron Pillay, a Briefly News journalist, has dedicated a decade to reporting on the South African political landscape, crime, and social issues. He worked as a newspaper journalist for 10 years before transitioning to online.
SOUTH AFRICA — The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) has issued an urgent appeal for information on the whereabouts of South African investigative journalist Micah Reddy and his local fixer, Kooki Mahmoud.
Reddy, a veteran investigative reporter, arrived in Djibouti on Thursday, 17 September. He met with his local fixer, Kooki Mahmoud, but the pair have been unreachable in Djibouti since Saturday, 19 September 2026.
CPJ urges authorities to investigate
Taking to X (formerly Twitter), CPJ Africa Director Angela Quintal released a statement about Reddy's disappearance.
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"The Committee to Protect Journalists is increasingly alarmed that South African journalist Micah Reddy and his fixer, Kooki Mahmoud, have been unreachable in Djibouti for more than 24 hours
"Their families and colleagues urgently need answers. CPJ understands their reporting was not focused on Djibouti and urges Djiboutian authorities to establish their whereabouts, credibly confirm their safety, and promptly release them if detained."
ICIJ points to possible detention
The International Consortium of Investigative Journalists (ICIJ), with which Reddy was working, confirmed that his trip to Djibouti was connected to a long-term investigation. Managing editor Fergus Shiel said Reddy was there "in the hope of learning about something that was a long-term investigation" but declined to elaborate, stating that providing further detail "could put him at further risk."
ICIJ later indicated it had been informed that both Reddy and Mahmoud were believed to be in custody due to a failure to obtain media accreditation. As of the latest available information, Djiboutian authorities had not publicly confirmed this account.
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Source: Briefly News
