Journalists detained over footage appearing to show South Sudan president wet himself

NAIROBI — Six journalists in South Sudan have been detained over the circulation of footage exhibiting President Salva Kiir appearing to wet himself at an official occasion, the nationwide journalists union stated on Saturday.

The footage from December confirmed a darkish stain unfold down the 71-year-old president’s gray trousers as he stood for the nationwide anthem at a street commissioning occasion. The video by no means aired on tv however subsequently circulated on social media.

The journalists, who work with the state-run South Sudan Broadcasting Company, had been detained on Tuesday and Wednesday, stated Patrick Oyet, president of the South Sudan Union of Journalists. They “are suspected of having knowledge on how the video of the president urinating himself came out,” he informed Reuters.

South Sudan Info Minister Michael Makuei and Nationwide Safety Service spokesperson David Kumuri didn’t instantly reply to requests for remark.

Mr. Kiir has been president since South Sudan gained independence in 2011. Authorities officers have repeatedly denied rumors circulating on social media that he’s unwell. The nation has been embroiled in battle for a lot of the previous decade.

The detained journalists are digicam operators Joseph Oliver and Mustafa Osman; video editor Victor Lado; contributor Jacob Benjamin; and Cherbek Ruben and Joval Toombe from the management room, Mr. Oyet stated.

“We are concerned because those who are detained now have stayed longer than what the law says,” he added. By regulation, South Sudanese authorities are allowed to detain suspects for less than 24 hours earlier than bringing them earlier than a decide.

The incident “matches a pattern of security personnel resorting to arbitrary detention whenever officials deem coverage unfavorable,” stated the sub-Saharan Africa consultant for the Committee to Defend Journalists, Muthoki Mumo. — Reuters

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