The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) has expressed deep concern over the disappearance of South African journalist Micah Reddy and his local fixer, Kooki Mahmoud, in Djibouti. According to the CPJ, Reddy and Mahmoud were last in contact while in Djibouti for reporting purposes. The organisation has called on Djiboutian authorities to immediately clarify the whereabouts of the two men and confirm their safety.
Micah Reddy, a Johannesburg-based investigative journalist, serves as the Africa coordinator at the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists (ICIJ). His work has covered governance, corruption, and financial affairs across Africa. Reddy previously worked at the amaBhungane Centre for Investigative Journalism, joining in 2017, and was the national coordinator for media freedom and diversity at the Right2Know Campaign.
The CPJ has urged Djiboutian authorities to launch a prompt and transparent investigation into Reddy and Mahmoud's status. The organisation also requested that authorities provide information to their families and employers. While the CPJ has not publicly stated that the pair was arrested or abducted, they have emphasised the importance of ensuring their safety and well-being.
Djibouti is currently dealing with an influx of people fleeing escalating hostilities in Yemen. By 12 September, more than 2 350 people had arrived in Djibouti, with at least half of them being children. The arrivals were reported along the country's northern coast near Obock, and the number of people arriving was expected to increase as fighting intensified.
The CPJ is continuing to monitor the situation and has not received a confirmed public explanation for the loss of contact with Reddy and Mahmoud. The organisation's call for information on the pair's whereabouts and safety highlights the concerns surrounding press freedom and journalist safety in the region.
Reddy and Mahmoud's disappearance has raised concerns about the risks faced by journalists working in difficult environments. The CPJ's advocacy for their safe return and the clarification of their status underscores the importance of protecting journalists and ensuring they can work without fear of disappearance or obstruction.
The international community is awaiting a response from Djiboutian authorities regarding Reddy and Mahmoud's disappearance. The CPJ's efforts to bring attention to the situation and push for a resolution demonstrate the ongoing struggle for press freedom and journalist safety globally.
Key points
- The Committee to Protect Journalists has called on Djiboutian authorities to clarify Micah Reddy and Kooki Mahmoud's whereabouts and ensure their safety.
- Micah Reddy is a Johannesburg-based investigative journalist and Africa coordinator at the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists.
- Djibouti is dealing with an influx of people fleeing escalating hostilities in Yemen, with over 2 350 arrivals reported by 12 September.
