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WorldQuiet 2d · day 4

South African journalist Micah Reddy missing in Djibouti

ICIJ Africa coordinator and his local fixer vanished Saturday after meeting in hotel lobby; governments seek answers.

newest coverage 2d agosummary written 3d ago10 pieces NewswiresMastodon

What to know

  • ICIJ's Africa coordinator Micah Reddy and his local fixer disappeared in Djibouti Saturday after last contact at 1 p.m.; neither has been heard from since despite messages sent to them.
  • Reddy was in Djibouti for a long-term investigation unrelated to the country; ICIJ editor suspects both men are in Djiboutian custody despite lack of confirmation.
  • South African, British, and US governments have contacted Djibouti seeking information; a Djibouti official questioned whether Reddy had proper media accreditation.
  • The Committee to Protect Journalists expressed alarm and demanded clarity on their whereabouts within 24 hours of disappearance.

“He wasn't there to report on anything to do with Djibouti. He was there in the hope of learning about something that was a long-term investigation. I can't go into that because it could put him at further risk.”

Fergus Shiel, ICIJ editor · Daily Maverick ↗

Micah Reddy ICIJ Africa coordinatorKooki Mahmoud Local fixerFergus Shiel ICIJ editor (Washington-based)Committee to Protect Journalists International press freedom watchdogNiall Reddy Micah Reddy's brother

South African journalist Micah Reddy missing in Djibouti
Straits Times

How it unfolded 1 development · click the chart to see its coverage articlesposts

Peak 2 pieces in one hour at Sep 20, 10 AM; 10 pieces over 4 days (9 articles · 1 post) Sep 20, 4 AM — 1 piece · 1 article — Newswires 1Sep 20, 5 AM — quietSep 20, 6 AM — quietSep 20, 7 AM — quietSep 20, 8 AM — quietSep 20, 9 AM — quietSep 20, 10 AM — 2 pieces · 1 article · 1 post — Mastodon 1, Newswires 1Sep 20, 11 AM — quietSep 20, 12 PM — quietSep 20, 1 PM — quietSep 20, 2 PM — 2 pieces · 2 articles — Newswires 2Sep 20, 3 PM — quietSep 20, 4 PM — 1 piece · 1 article — Newswires 1Sep 20, 5 PM — quietSep 20, 6 PM — quietSep 20, 7 PM — quietSep 20, 8 PM — quietSep 20, 9 PM — quietSep 20, 10 PM — quietSep 20, 11 PM — quietSep 21, 12 AM — quietSep 21, 1 AM — quietSep 21, 2 AM — quietSep 21, 3 AM — quietSep 21, 4 AM — quietSep 21, 5 AM — quietSep 21, 6 AM — quietSep 21, 7 AM — quietSep 21, 8 AM — quietSep 21, 9 AM — quietSep 21, 10 AM — quietSep 21, 11 AM — quietSep 21, 12 PM — quietSep 21, 1 PM — quietSep 21, 2 PM — quietSep 21, 3 PM — quietSep 21, 4 PM — quietSep 21, 5 PM — quietSep 21, 6 PM — quietSep 21, 7 PM — quietSep 21, 8 PM — quietSep 21, 9 PM — quietSep 21, 10 PM — quietSep 21, 11 PM — quietSep 22, 12 AM — quietSep 22, 1 AM — quietSep 22, 2 AM — quietSep 22, 3 AM — quietSep 22, 4 AM — quietSep 22, 5 AM — quietSep 22, 6 AM — quietSep 22, 7 AM — quietSep 22, 8 AM — quietSep 22, 9 AM — 1 piece · 1 article — Newswires 1Sep 22, 10 AM — 1 piece · 1 article — Newswires 1Sep 22, 11 AM — quietSep 22, 12 PM — quietSep 22, 1 PM — 2 pieces · 2 articles — Newswires 2Sep 22, 2 PM — quietSep 22, 3 PM — quietSep 22, 4 PM — quietSep 22, 5 PM — quietSep 22, 6 PM — quietSep 22, 7 PM — quietSep 22, 8 PM — quietSep 22, 9 PM — quietSep 22, 10 PM — quietSep 22, 11 PM — quietYesterday, 12 AM — quietYesterday, 1 AM — quietYesterday, 2 AM — quietYesterday, 3 AM — quietYesterday, 4 AM — quietYesterday, 5 AM — quietYesterday, 6 AM — quietYesterday, 7 AM — quietYesterday, 8 AM — quietYesterday, 9 AM — quietYesterday, 10 AM — quietYesterday, 11 AM — quietYesterday, 12 PM — quietYesterday, 1 PM — quietYesterday, 2 PM — quietYesterday, 3 PM — quietYesterday, 4 PM — quietYesterday, 5 PM — quietYesterday, 6 PM — quietYesterday, 7 PM — quietYesterday, 8 PM — quietYesterday, 9 PM — quietYesterday, 10 PM — quietYesterday, 11 PM — quietToday, 12 AM — quietToday, 1 AM — quietToday, 2 AM — quietToday, 3 AM — quietToday, 4 AM — quietToday, 5 AM — quietToday, 6 AM — quietToday, 7 AM — quietToday, 8 AM — quietToday, 9 AM — quietToday, 10 AM — quietToday, 11 AM — quietToday, 12 PM — quietToday, 1 PM — quietToday, 2 PM — quiet 1
Sep 21Sep 22yesterdaynow · 3:11 PM ET
  1. background

    ICIJ editor alerts authorities across multiple countries — Shiel noticed Reddy's messages switched from two ticks to one tick (undelivered status) and became concerned about his safety. From that point until 3 a.m. Sunday, he alerted UK, South African, US, and Djibouti authorities. South Africa responded immediately offering help; UK launched a missing person's report.

  2. background

    Reddy and fixer Mahmoud go missing after meeting — Reddy texted his editor Fergus Shiel at approximately 1 p.m. Saturday that everything was fine and fixer Kooki Mahmoud was arriving. No communication has been received from either man since that message. Within hours, messages to Reddy via Signal and WhatsApp stopped being delivered.

  3. background

    Committee to Protect Journalists expresses alarm — CPJ's Africa director Angela Quintal posted that the organization was 'increasingly alarmed' over 24 hours had elapsed without contact with Reddy or Mahmoud, and urged Djiboutian authorities to establish their whereabouts and confirm their safety.

  4. background

    Reddy's family confirms disappearance and absence of contact — Reddy's brother Niall told Reuters on Sunday that Micah's last contact with him was around 11 a.m. Saturday, with his last known communication with colleagues at 1 p.m. the same day. The family has received no information from authorities about his whereabouts despite requests from South African and British officials.

  5. 1

    Djibouti official questions Reddy's documentation

    A senior official in the Djibouti presidency, Naguib Ali Taher, stated that Micah had not registered for media accreditation in Djibouti and said authorities needed to check tourist visa records to verify his entry.

    “And he texted to say that everything was fine and Kooki was arriving, and we haven't heard from him since.”
    — Fergus Shiel, ICIJ editor · source
    1. 2 outlets South African journalist missing in Djibouti, family says

      first by Straits Times, 4d ago · also Hindustan Times

      1 more headline
    • sabcnews_za_unofficial@mastodon.africa

      SA journalist Micah Reddy reportedly missing in Djibouti https://www. sabcnews.com/sabcnews/sa-journ alist-micah-reddy-reportedly-missing-in-djibouti/ # SABC # SABCNews # Africa # SouthAfrica # News

      sabcnews_za_unofficial@mastodon.africaMastodon4d agoview on Mastodon ↗
  6. background

    Micah Reddy arrives in Djibouti for reporting assignment — Reddy, Africa coordinator for ICIJ, arrived in Djibouti on Thursday around 6:30 p.m. after stopover in Addis Ababa. He was staying at Escale International Hotel and planned to remain for no more than three days on a long-term investigation unrelated to Djibouti.

Also covered reported alongside — the timeline has no entry for these yet

  1. 3 outlets News24 | SA journalist Micah Reddy on the way home after 4 days in Djibouti intelligence custody

    first by News24, 2d ago · also AllAfrica, Daily Maverick

    2 more headlines
  2. 1 outlet News24 | SA journalist Micah Reddy, ‘local fixer’ go missing in Djibouti

    first by News24, 4d ago

    1 more headline

and 1 smaller piece