SA investigative journalist missing in Djibouti

South African investigative journalist Micah Reddy has gone missing in Djibouti while on a reporting trip, his family said, adding that they have received no information from authorities about his whereabouts since he was last heard from on Saturday. According to TimesLIVE, Reddy, the Africa editor for the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists (ICIJ), arrived in the Horn of Africa nation last Thursday and had been in regular contact with family and colleagues before communication abruptly ceased, his brother Niall Reddy said on Sunday. The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) said in a post on X that it was 'increasingly alarmed' that more than 24 hours had elapsed since anyone had been able to reach Reddy or his fixer, Kooki Mahmoud. 'CPJ understands their reporting was not focused on Djibouti and urges Djiboutian authorities to establish their whereabouts, credibly confirm their safety, and promptly release them if detained,' Angela Quintal, CPJ Africa director, said in a post on X. Reddy’s last known communication with colleagues was at about 1pm on Saturday. Several hours later, messages sent to him via Signal and WhatsApp were no longer being delivered, prompting concern among relatives and colleagues. Micah was staying at the Escale International hotel in Djibouti’s capital and was last known to have met Mahmoud in the hotel lobby, according to his family. Niall added that South African and British officials had sought information from Djibouti’s Government after the journalist’s disappearance, but the family had so far received no clarity on his whereabouts and no official comment from authorities.

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