1 week ago
South African Journalist Freed and Deported from Djibouti
Micah Reddy is a journalist from South Africa.
He went to Djibouti, a country in the Horn of Africa.
His family and colleagues could contact him at first.
Then they suddenly stopped hearing from him.
Djibouti authorities said he did not have the right media accreditation.
This means he may not have had official permission to work as a journalist there.
Reddy was later freed and sent back to South Africa.
His family said he was safe and had not been reporting on Djibouti.
A fixer who was with him was also reportedly released without being charged.
South African investigative journalist Micah Reddy was freed and deported from Djibouti, according to the Committee to Protect Journalists Africa.
Djibouti authorities said Reddy lacked required media accreditation and had deliberately avoided obtaining it.
Reddy’s family said he was unharmed and had not been in Djibouti on a reporting assignment.
His fixer, Kooki Mahmoud, was reportedly released without charge.
Reddy had arrived in Djibouti the previous Thursday, and contact with him stopped abruptly on Saturday.
- Who
- South African investigative journalist Micah Reddy, his fixer Kooki Mahmoud, Djibouti authorities, and the Committee to Protect Journalists Africa.
- What
- Reddy was detained, then freed and deported from Djibouti; Mahmoud was reportedly released without charge.
- Where
- Djibouti; Reddy was returning to Johannesburg, South Africa.
- When
- Reddy arrived the previous Thursday, contact stopped on Saturday, and his release and deportation were reported on Tuesday, September 22.
- Why
- Djibouti authorities said Reddy lacked required media accreditation, while his family said he was not there on a reporting assignment.
Djibouti Authorities’ Position
Family’s Position
Media accreditation
Djibouti Authorities’ Position
Djibouti authorities said Reddy had not registered for the required media accreditation and had deliberately avoided obtaining it.
Family’s Position
Reddy’s family did not address the accreditation claim but said he was not in Djibouti on a reporting assignment.
Purpose of the visit
Djibouti Authorities’ Position
Authorities treated Reddy as someone subject to media-accreditation requirements.
Family’s Position
The family said Reddy was not reporting on Djibouti or its government when he was detained.
Key facts
- Journalist
- Micah Reddy, Africa editor for the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists
- Nationality
- South African
- Destination
- Johannesburg, South Africa
- Official reason cited
- Djibouti authorities said Reddy lacked proper media accreditation
- Family’s account
- Reddy was not in Djibouti to report on the country or its government
- Fixer
- Kooki Mahmoud was reportedly released without charge
- Watchdog
- The Committee to Protect Journalists Africa reported Reddy’s release and deportation
Quotes
CPJ Africa
A regional arm of the Committee to Protect Journalists
“Authorities claim he did not have proper media accreditation. He will return to Johannesburg soon. His fixer, Kooki Mahmoud, is apparently released without charge.”
theprint.in
Micah Reddy’s family
Family members of South African journalist Micah Reddy
“It is with immense relief and delight that we share the news that he is on his way back to South Africa, unharmed. At the time he was detained, he was not in Djibouti reporting on the country or its government.”
theprint.in
Sources
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