Top South African Investigative Journalist Missing in Djibouti ‎

JOHANNESBURG/DJIBOUTI – South African investigative journalist Micah Reddy and his local fixer, Kooki Mahmoud, have gone missing while on assignment in Djibouti, alarming colleagues and families. Daily Maverick reports that neither man has been heard from since midday on Saturday.

Who he is
Reddy is a Johannesburg-based journalist and the Africa coordinator for the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists (ICIJ). He worked at the amaBhungane Centre for Investigative Journalism from 2017 to 2023 and was previously national coordinator for media freedom and diversity at the Right2Know Campaign. His work has covered governance, corruption and financial affairs across Africa.

What is known
ICIJ managing editor Fergus Shiel said Reddy arrived in Djibouti on Thursday night, was due to leave by Monday at the latest, and met the fixer, Mahmoud. Shiel said Reddy was in contact with the ICIJ from a hotel at around 1 p.m. local time on Friday and vanished shortly afterwards.

Other reports date the last contact to midday Saturday. Shiel said ICIJ suspects Reddy is in custody. Djibouti authorities have not confirmed his whereabouts, and the CPJ has not said the pair were arrested or abducted.

Calls for answers
The Committee to Protect Journalists said on Sunday it was "deeply concerned" and urged Djibouti's authorities to clarify the men's whereabouts, confirm their well-being and ensure their safety.

It also asked for a prompt and transparent investigation and for information to be given to their families and employers. Angela Quintal, CPJ's Africa director, was among those speaking for the organisation.

amaBhungane managing partner Sam Sole called Reddy fearless and said his disappearance and Mahmoud's are intensely worrying. He said that, according to the information amaBhungane had, Reddy's current investigation was not focused on Djibouti or its government.

The South African and British governments have tried to contact Djibouti's government, and US authorities have also been contacted.

Backdrop
The disappearance comes as Djibouti receives people fleeing escalating hostilities in Yemen. UN figures show more than 2,350 people, at least half of them children, had arrived by September 12.

Mustapha Bature Sallama
Medical/ Science Communicator,
Private Investigator, Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Analysis,

International Conflict Management and Peacebuilding. ( USIP)

[email protected]
+233555275880

Sources
Daily Maverick, "Top SA investigative journalist goes missing in Djibouti," Sept. 20, 2026 (https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2026-09-20-top-sa-investigative-journalist-goes-missing-in-djibouti/)

GroundUp, "South African journalist Micah Reddy missing in Djibouti" (https://groundup.org.za/article/south-african-journalist-micah-reddy-missing-in-djibouti/)

SABC News, "SA journalist Micah Reddy reportedly missing in Djibouti" (https://www.sabcnews.com/sabcnews/sa-journalist-micah-reddy-reportedly-missing-in-djibouti/)

IOL, "South African journalist Micah Reddy reportedly missing in Djibouti," Sept. 20, 2026 (https://iol.co.za/news/world/2026-09-20-south-african-journalist-micah-reddy-reportedly-missing-in-djibouti/)

Magic 828 (https://magic828.co.za/south-african-journalist-micah-reddy-reportedly-missing-in-djibouti/) and The Namibian (https://www.namibian.com.na/south-african-journalist-micah-reddy-reportedly-missing-in-djibouti/), carrying CPJ's statement

The Bulrushes, on CPJ and the Yemen arrivals (https://thebulrushes.com/2026/09/20/cpj-deeply-concerned-by-reports-of-missing-south-african-journalist-and-fixer-in-djibouti/)

News24, "SA journalist Micah Reddy, 'local fixer' go missing in Djibouti" (https://www.news24.com/southafrica/news/sa-journalist-micah-reddy-local-fixer-go-missing-in-djibouti-20260920-0496)