CAJ Raises Alarm Over Missing South African Journalist, Fixer In Djibouti

The Congress of African Journalists (CAJ) has raised the alarm over the disappearance of South African investigative journalist Micah Reddy and his fixer, Kooki Mahmoud, in Djibouti, demanding that authorities immediately disclose their whereabouts.

CAJ joined the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) in calling on the Djiboutian authorities to urgently establish the status of the two men, who have reportedly been unreachable for more than 24 hours.

In a statement issued on Sunday, CAJ said it was “increasingly alarmed” by the development involving Reddy, Africa coordinator of the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists (ICIJ), and Mahmoud.

Reddy reportedly travelled to Djibouti from Johannesburg through Addis Ababa on Thursday and checked into the Escale International Hotel.

According to his colleagues and press-freedom organisations, the journalist was in Djibouti for a brief visit connected to a longer-term investigation being conducted elsewhere and was not reporting on Djibouti itself.

He was reportedly last in contact with colleagues around midday on Saturday before becoming unreachable.

CAJ called on Djiboutian authorities to immediately locate Reddy and Mahmoud, confirm their safety and inform their families and colleagues of their status.

The organisation also said that if the two journalists were in detention, they should be released unconditionally so they could continue their professional work.

CAJ’s position aligns with a call by CPJ Africa Director Angela Quintal, who said the families and colleagues of the two men urgently needed answers and urged Djiboutian authorities to provide credible confirmation of their safety.

CAJ President Michael Adeboboye said the disappearance raised serious concerns for journalist safety and press freedom across the continent.

“African journalism cannot function when colleagues disappear after checking into a hotel,” Adeboboye said.

He disclosed that CAJ had activated its Continental Safety Protocol and its new International Connection of Journalists alliance in response to the case.

Adeboboye described the development as a “continental emergency” and said CAJ was maintaining contact with CPJ Africa and other partners as efforts continued to establish the journalists’ whereabouts.

Reddy, a Johannesburg-based investigative journalist and former amaBhungane reporter, is known for investigations into governance and corruption.

CAJ said it would continue engaging relevant authorities and press-freedom organisations until the whereabouts and status of the two men were established.

As of Sunday, there was no public confirmation that Reddy and Mahmoud had been located or were safe.