World
South African journalist missing in Djibouti
Micah Reddy, who also holds British nationality, travelled to Djibouti on assignment on Thursday and remained in hourly contact with colleagues until 1:00 pm local time on Saturday, when he stopped communicating, his wife said.
Micah Reddy lost contact with colleagues on Saturday, when he stopped communicating. (Courtesy photo)
By: AFP ., Journalist @New Vision
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NAIROBI — A South African journalist has gone missing in Djibouti, his family confirmed to AFP, with his disappearance reported to multiple authorities.
Micah Reddy, who also holds British nationality, travelled to Djibouti on assignment on Thursday and remained in hourly contact with colleagues until 1:00 pm local time on Saturday, when he stopped communicating, his wife said.
"After four hours...his phone was turned off," Nicole Beardsworth told AFP, adding that she is "very worried".
He went missing alongside his local fixer Kooki Mahmoud.
Reddy, who is the African coordinator for the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists, had been staying at a hotel in the capital before his disappearance.
"His last message was yesterday morning; he was talking about the blisteringly hot weather," Reddy's mother told AFP.
Reddy, who is the African coordinator for the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists, had been staying at a hotel in the capital before his disappearance.
"His last message was yesterday morning; he was talking about the blisteringly hot weather," Reddy's mother told AFP.
"He did not express any fear. So we are hoping this is an interrogation of some branch of the Djibouti government and they might hold him for questioning and then release him," she said.
The family said alerts had been issued to various authorities, including Interpol, the British High Commission and South Africa's foreign affairs department.
The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) urged Djiboutian authorities to "immediately clarify their whereabouts and ensure their safety".
Contacted by AFP, a government official said he was unaware of the case, while a senior ruling party member said it "was not true".
Djibouti ranks 167th out of 180 in the 2026 press freedom index by Reporters Without Borders.
The family said alerts had been issued to various authorities, including Interpol, the British High Commission and South Africa's foreign affairs department.
The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) urged Djiboutian authorities to "immediately clarify their whereabouts and ensure their safety".
Contacted by AFP, a government official said he was unaware of the case, while a senior ruling party member said it "was not true".
Djibouti ranks 167th out of 180 in the 2026 press freedom index by Reporters Without Borders.