Six Journalists Detained for Filming South Sudan President Who Had an 'Accident' in His Pants

▲ Salva Kiir, President of South Sudan [Image source=AP News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Kwon Jae-hee] Six South Sudanese journalists were detained after filming their own president having an 'accident' in his pants while singing the national anthem at an official event.

On the 6th (local time), according to the British daily The Guardian, the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) announced that six journalists affiliated with South Sudan Broadcasting Corporation (SSBC) were detained by the National Security Service for releasing unauthorized footage.

CPJ cited local media reports and anonymous sources, stating that six people including the SSBC control room staff, cameramen, and supervisors were arrested and are under investigation.

CPJ pointed out, "This is consistent with the past practice of arbitrarily detaining journalists whenever reports unfavorable to the authorities emerge."

Salva Kiir (71), President of South Sudan, attended a road opening ceremony in mid-last month, during which footage captured by the broadcaster’s cameras showed the inside of his light-colored pants becoming wet and water pooling beneath his feet while he was singing the national anthem.

When President Kiir seemed to notice this and looked down at his pants, the camera filming him suddenly turned away and started filming elsewhere.

This video, which appeared to show him having an 'accident' in his pants, spread online, sparking speculation about his health issues and debates over whether it was appropriate to distribute footage that damages the president’s dignity.

The controversy spread not only within South Sudan but also to neighboring countries such as Uganda, Nigeria, and Kenya.

While SSBC claims it did not use the footage in its broadcasts, the exact circumstances of how the video was leaked remain unknown.

CPJ urged, "South Sudanese authorities should unconditionally release the six SSBC staff members and guarantee that they can work without any threats of intimidation or further arrests."

The South Sudanese Journalists Union (UJOSS), which had previously denied reports of the journalists’ arrests, also issued a statement on the same day calling for the release of the detained journalists.

UJOSS stated, "If there is evidence of professional misconduct or attacks, the authorities should conduct administrative and judicial procedures fairly and transparently in accordance with due process."

President Kiir has ruled South Sudan for 12 years since its independence in 2011 after a long civil war, but he has faced criticism for suppressing opposition parties and corruption issues.

Under his rule, no elections have been held in South Sudan, with the first election scheduled for next year.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.