BREAKING | Micah Reddy released, on his way home to South Africa

South African investigative journalist Micah Reddy has been released and is safe after being detained in Djibouti, according to his brother.

Reddy was reportedly deported from the East African country and is expected to return to Johannesburg.

READ | Who is Micah Reddy?

The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) said Djiboutian authorities claimed Reddy did not have the required media accreditation to work in the country.

His local fixer, Kooki Mahmoud, has also reportedly been released without charge.

Breaking news: South African journalist Micah Reddy is free and safe. He was deported from Djibouti, according to his brother Niall Reddy.
Authorities claim he did not have proper media accreditation. He will return to Johannesburg soon. His fixer, Kooki Mahmoud, is apparently… pic.twitter.com/qH9C9b14V2

— CPJ Africa (@CPJAfrica) September 22, 2026

Four days in custody

Reddy and Mahmoud had not been heard from since Saturday, 19 September, prompting concerns for their safety.

The pair were believed to have been in Djibouti on assignment, although it remains unclear which story Reddy had travelled to the country to investigate.

The International Consortium of Investigative Journalists (ICIJ) had earlier reported that Reddy was believed to be in custody over an alleged failure to obtain media accreditation.

The organisation said Mahmoud was also being held by Djiboutian authorities.

Reddy’s disappearance prompted concern across the journalism community, including from the South African National Editors Forum.

CPJ raises questions

The CPJ welcomed Reddy’s release but criticised the circumstances surrounding his detention.

CPJ Africa Regional Director Angela Quintal said four days in what she described as “secretive intelligence custody” was unacceptable treatment of an investigative journalist.

“CPJ welcomes the overdue release of Micah Reddy and Kooki Mahmoud, but serious questions remain about their detention and Djibouti’s opaque accreditation process,” Quintal said.

She also said Djibouti’s strategic importance should not shield the country from scrutiny over the treatment of journalists.

Statement from the family of Micah Reddy

It is with immense relief and delight that we share the news that he is on his way back to South Africa, unharmed.

Micah, a journalist and Africa Coordinator at the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists (ICIJ), was held in the custody of Djiboutian authorities from 1pm on Saturday, 19 September 2026. Despite numerous efforts to establish his whereabouts and condition, no official information was provided until today.

He was held together with his colleague and local fixer, Kooki Mahmoud, who has since been released without charge.

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.

We would like to express our heartfelt gratitude to everyone who has supported us 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.

We also thank Micah’s employer, the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists, as well as the many civil society, diplomatic and media organisations; fellow journalists, particularly those from the region; friends, family, colleagues; and members of the public – in South Africa and around the world – who raised their voices in support. Your efforts provided strength, solidarity and hope during an extraordinarily difficult time.

We would like to especially thank Micah’s legal representatives who worked so hard to get Micah back home to us.

Waiting for news of a loved one whose whereabouts and wellbeing are unknown is unimaginably painful. Our thoughts are with the many families in South Africa and around the world who experience this uncertainty every day.

We are profoundly grateful that, for our family, this story has a safe and happy ending.

We are exceptionally grateful to colleagues in the media for all their support in the last three days. We ask that the privacy of the family is respected upon Micah’s return until such time as we are ready and have all the information to share with the media