South African journalist detained in Djibouti released

South African journalist Micah Reddy, arrested by the Djibouti authorities last weekend, has been released.

The International Consortium of Investigative Journalists (ICIJ) disclosed his release in a statement on Tuesday.

“Micah Reddy has been released from custody in Djibouti. He is safe and will soon reunite with his family in South Africa,” the statement read.

Mr Reddy, who is the ICIJ African coordinator, was arrested last Saturday alongside a local journalist, Mohamed Ismael.

The ICIJ, in a statement on Sunday, said Djibouti authorities detained him for “failing to obtain media accreditation.”

Both Mr Reddy and Mr Ismael, a local journalist, have now been released.

The ICIJ had earlier identified that Mr Reddy was arrested by the Djibouti authorities for lacking media accreditation despite not being on reporting duty.

The journalist, known for his investigative work on governance, corruption and regional affairs, was visiting and not reporting on the country.

His employers initially declared him missing on Saturday after losing contact with him.

According to the ICIJ editor-in-chief, Fergus Shiel, the South African journalist and his colleague were supposed to meet on Saturday at 1 p.m. in the lobby of the hotel where the South African reporter was staying.

Mr Shiel told Daily Maverick that the reporter was staying at the Escale International Hotel and intended to be in Djibouti for three days.

“He met with a local fixer called Kooki Mahmoud. He wasn’t there to report on anything to do with Djibouti.

“He was there in the hope of learning about something that was a long-term investigation. I can’t go into that because it could put him at further risk,” he said.

Mr Shiel narrated that on Saturday afternoon, Mr Reddy was to meet Mr Kooki, then “he texted to say that everything was fine and Kooki was arriving.”

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He noted that the organisation lost touch with him after this.

“It’s very, very unusual for somebody to disappear from the lobby of an international hotel,” he added.

The ICIJ had said it was “gravely concerned” for the safety of its Africa coordinator.

However, the ICIJ has now confirmed his release.

South African media also reported that his family confirmed he was unharmed and was now on his way home.

The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) expressed relief at the news, saying, “We are greatly relieved. Four days in secretive intelligence custody is unacceptable treatment of an investigative journalist.”