Djibouti authorities release and deport South African journalist Micah Reddy

The Djibouti authorities who it emerged were holding South African journalist, Micah Reddy and his local fixer, Kooki Mahmoud have released the two men from custody and have deported Reddy. No official information of their whereabouts was released while they were being held.

In a statement issued Tuesday September 22, 2026, the Ministry of the Interior of Djibouti said, Reddy had arrived in the country without having obtained accreditation, and was engaging in activities contrary to the stated reasons of his visit and was therefore arrested. Reddy and his local fixer were arrested last Saturday September 19 around 1pm local time. Relatives and colleagues declared Reddy and Mahmoud missing after they lost contact with them around the time they were put in detention.

While Reddy has been deported, Mahmoud has been released without charge.

Reddy’s family have issued a statement on his release.

The statement said the past few days of uncertainty and waiting have been interminable and devastating. 

“Despite repeated efforts by Micah’s family, colleagues, media organisations, diplomatic  representatives and press freedom groups, we were unable to receive direct  confirmation of their condition or establish contact with them. 

This is deeply concerning. Micah is a respected South African investigative journalist who is committed to a robust and free press and has spent his career advancing the public interest through ethical, rigorous and courageous reporting. At the time he was detained, he was not in Djibouti reporting on the country or its government, ”the statement said.

The family thanked everyone who supported them and worked to help secure Micah’s return.

“We are particularly grateful to the South African and UK governments, diplomatic missions and multilateral bodies who worked tirelessly to establish his whereabouts and secure information about his welfare,” the family said.

They also thanked the employers of Reddy, the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists (ICIJ). Reddy is the Africa Coordinator of the ICIJ.