The South Sudanese President urinates in his pants at a ceremony. A video of the mishap spread across the web. A short time later there are reports and rumors about missing and killed journalists in South Sudan. Some now work in fear.
An embarrassing moment for Salva Kiir Mayardit, the President of South Sudan: During a ceremony to open a new road construction project in mid-December, he wet himself – live in front of the camera. As the national anthem is played, a spot appears on his crotch. Then a pool of urine forms on his left foot.
Several media, including British newspapers, reported on the mishap “Daily Mail” and “Guardians” as well as the online medium “Sahara Reporters”.
A video of the mishap circulated on social media. 71-year-old Salva Kiir looks down his leg, then the camera turns away:
According to “Sahara Reporters” – an online news medium that post own information “Citizen journalists encouraged to report on corruption and government abuses in Africa” - the reason for the wetting was probably a urinary tract infection.
Reports on missing and killed journalists
The reactions to the video varied on social networks, according to “Sahara Reporters”. Some criticized the president, others the cameraman.
Apparently, the coverage of the president’s misadventure in South Sudan had serious consequences for journalists: The news agency African News Agency (ANA) based in South Africa, reported circulating reports that some journalists who covered Salva Kiir’s mishap “have gradually disappeared”.
ANA cites former journalist and candidate for the East African Legislative Assembly, Bukyana Julius, in its report. In a Dec. 16 tweet, he wrote, “One by one, all the journalists covering the state event where the President peed Salva Kir (sic!) are missing and some are found dead.”
He shared a photo on his account of a man apparently hanging himself from a ceiling fan. It is said to be a journalist who filmed how Salva Kiir peed her pants.
Photo of allegedly hanged cameraman Fake News
The photo of the allegedly hanged journalist was also taken from the side “South Sudan Liberty News” distributed, an apparently independent news site.
But this is false news, like that star could verify: The Nigerian news site “The Eagle Online” published the said photo in August 2022 with an article about the suicide of a man. The site also shows a photo from a different perspective. Most likely, this news site’s photo was used to spread the fake news of the dead cameraman.
Avoidable Disaster
South Sudan: The Struggle for Life and Homeland
However, security forces are said to have searched for the cameraman who filmed Salva Kiir’s mishap. A reporter from state broadcaster SSBC told the independent “Sudan’s Post”that they were asked by the security forces of the President’s Office to help identify the journalist.
Journalists’ Association: No detained or missing colleagues
“Some of our colleagues from SSBC were forced to help identify the culprit immediately after the video was released. They even searched our phones and appeared to be still looking for him,” the SSBC journalist said.
The reporter went on to say that he had heard that “three of the Juba-based journalists have disappeared”. However, he could not confirm whether it was a rumor or not.
The South Sudanese journalists’ association Union of Journalists of South Sudan denied the reports. In a December 17 letter, the association’s president wrote that “at the moment” no journalists were detained or missing.
“We are in contact with the various security organs in the country and that is the information we have and we always check whether our colleagues are missing, arrested or detained,” he told the Sudans Post.
Problems with freedom of the press
On the NGO Press Freedom Index Reporters Without Borders South Sudan is ranked 128th out of 180. There are repeated attacks, charges, threats and attempts to intimidate independent journalists. These often came from state security forces. Tolerance for criticism of the government and authorities is low, and censorship and self-censorship are rampant.
Due to this situation, according to the ANA news agency, many believe that this could be the reason why major media in South Sudan are not reporting on the allegedly missing journalists.
The Sudans Post also reports that journalists are working in fear. Journalists told the newspaper that the continued spread of rumors “raises fears” in them, which they say “could have a negative impact on the performance of their jobs”. Another journalist described the situation of journalists in South Sudan as “unpredictable and dangerous”.
Unstable government in South Sudan
South Sudan, which has been independent since 2011, has been led by a fragile transitional government led by President Salva Kiir and former rebel leader Riek Machar for a good two years. However, Salva Kiir has ruled continuously since independence from Sudan.
Salva Kiir’s wetting has sparked speculation as to whether the 71-year-old is still fit for the job. According to the news agency, his SPLM party resigned Reuters At the beginning of December, it was announced that Salva Kiir would run for president in the 2024 elections. Politicians and lawyers from Uganda, Nigeria and Kenya spoke loudly “Guardians” on social media concerns about Salva Kiir’s long reign.
Prominent Kenyan lawyer Esther Ang’awa wrote on Twitter: “I would have expected President Kiir to have resigned honorably by now for health reasons. But my critics say I’m an idealist and that’s not how politics (I hear ‘tyranny’) works. “
The fledgling Republic of South Sudan has been plagued by instability since gaining independence. In 2013, a civil war broke out in the oil-rich and conflict-ridden country, killing thousands and fleeing millions. Despite a peace agreement five years ago, various armed groups continue to fight for influence.
Natural Disasters and Poverty in South Sudan
According to the authorities, at least 60 people were killed in violent clashes a few days ago, including many women and children. Fighters from a youth militia are said to be responsible for this.
Poverty and natural disasters are also major problems for the country. From July to October 2020, floods caused severe devastation in parts of South Sudan. There is food insecurity due to the conflicts, extreme weather and the corona pandemic. The United Nations estimated in spring 2021 that 8.3 million people in South Sudan were in need of humanitarian assistance. This corresponds to around three quarters of the population.
Other sources: DPA News Agency, The New Cosmos World Almanac & Atlas 2022, “The Eagle Online”