The family of South African journalist Micah Reddy confirmed that he is on his way home after being held in police custody in Djibouti. In a statement, the family expressed relief that Reddy is unharmed. They described the past few days as "interminable and devastating" due to the uncertainty and lack of information about his whereabouts and condition. Reddy, a journalist and African coordinator at the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists (ICIJ), was detained on Saturday at 13h00 local time.
According to the family, Reddy was held together with his colleague and local fixer, Kooki Mahmoud, who has also been released without charge. The Djiboutian authorities claimed that Reddy did not have proper media accreditation, which led to his detention. The family and various organizations, including the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), had been trying to establish Reddy's whereabouts and condition, but no official information was provided until his release.
The CPJ has expressed relief at the news of Reddy's release, but also raised concerns about his detention and the opaque accreditation process in Djibouti. CPJ's regional director in Africa, Angela Quintal, stated that four days in secretive intelligence custody is unacceptable treatment of an investigative journalist. The CPJ welcomes Reddy's release, but serious questions remain about his detention.
Reddy's family expressed deep concern about the lack of information and contact with him and Mahmoud during their detention. Despite repeated efforts by the family, colleagues, media organizations, diplomatic representatives, and freedom groups, they were unable to receive direct confirmation of their conditions or establish any contact. The family emphasized that Reddy was not reporting on Djibouti or its government at the time of his detention.
The family of Micah Reddy has thanked various individuals and organizations for their support and efforts to secure his release. They expressed gratitude to the South African and United Kingdom governments, diplomatic missions, and multilateral bodies that worked tirelessly to establish his whereabouts and secure information about his welfare. The ICIJ, civil society, diplomatic and media organizations, fellow journalists, and members of the public in South Africa and around the world also received thanks.
Reddy's family has asked that their privacy be respected upon his return, until they are ready to share more information with the media. The news of Reddy's release has been met with relief from various organizations and individuals who had been advocating for his release. His detention had raised concerns about press freedom and the treatment of journalists in Djibouti.
The release of Micah Reddy and Kooki Mahmoud has been welcomed by the CPJ and other organizations that advocate for press freedom. The incident highlights the challenges faced by investigative journalists and the importance of transparent and fair accreditation processes. Reddy's case will likely have implications for the journalistic community and the government's handling of media accreditation in Djibouti.
Key points
- The detention of Micah Reddy and Kooki Mahmoud raises concerns about Djibouti's opaque accreditation process and its implications for press freedom.
- The CPJ and other organizations have welcomed Reddy's release, but serious questions remain about his detention and the treatment of journalists in Djibouti.
- The incident highlights the importance of international cooperation and advocacy in securing the release of detained journalists and promoting press freedom.
