South African journalist Micah Reddy missing in Djibouti

South African investigative journalist Micah Reddy has gone missing in Djibouti while on assignment, along with local fixer Kooki Mahmoud.

Reddy, the Africa coordinator at the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists (ICIJ), last contacted colleagues on Saturday, 19 September.

The Department of International Relations and Cooperation (Dirco) has confirmed that it is aware of the matter, while press freedom organisations have called for urgent answers.

Reddy arrived in Djibouti on Thursday and planned to spend only a few days in the country.

ICIJ editor Fergus Shiel said Reddy arranged to meet Mahmoud at about 13:00 local time on Saturday. Shortly afterwards, Reddy sent colleagues a message saying everything was fine and that Mahmoud was arriving.

That was the last time they heard from him.

Messages sent to Reddy’s phone later stopped going through.

His wife, Nicole Beardsworth, said he had remained in regular contact with colleagues until Saturday afternoon.

Authorities have alerted both the South African and British governments. Reddy also holds British nationality.

Dirco spokesperson Chrispin Phiri confirmed that the department knew about the case.

Authorities urged to act

The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) has called on Djiboutian authorities to establish where Reddy and Mahmoud are and ensure their safety.

CPJ Africa director Angela Quintal said the organisation was concerned about the pair.

Authorities have not said whether they detained or arrested them, and no verified information has yet explained what happened after their meeting.

Shiel said Reddy was not investigating Djibouti or its government.

He said Reddy travelled there as part of a longer-term investigation but declined to give further details because of concerns about his safety.

Experienced investigative journalist

Reddy currently serves as ICIJ’s Africa coordinator and has worked extensively in investigative journalism.

He previously worked at the amaBhungane Centre for Investigative Journalism, which he joined in 2017, and earlier served as national coordinator for media freedom and diversity at the Right2Know Campaign.

AmaBhungane managing partner Sam Sole described Reddy as a gifted and fearless journalist.

Reddy has also worked internationally. He previously served as managing editor of the Yemen Times in Sana’a and has worked in Egypt and on reporting and research projects in other countries.

He was due to return from the assignment on Monday.

Reddy’s disappearance comes days after Lesotho journalist Kananelo Boloetse was allegedly abducted from his home, assaulted and threatened over his journalism and human rights work, prompting Amnesty International to demand an urgent investigation.