Six journalists in South Sudan were arrested this Saturday (7) after a Video showing President Salva Kiir, 71, apparently urinating in his pants at an official event. In it, the leader appears to be concentrating on the national anthem, leaning on a cane, while a dark stain spreads across his trousers. Only when a puddle forms on the floor does he look down.
The moment was caught on state television camera but never aired. According to national journalists union leader Patrick Oyet, the arrested journalists are accused of having knowledge of how the video was leaked. Information Secretary Michael Makuei and National Security Service spokesman David Kumuri did not respond to Portal requests for comment.
Kiir has been the country’s president since the south became an autonomous region from the rest of Sudan in 2010. Independence came after a referendum on full separation between the south and north of the territory, a consequence of peace accords signed in January 2005 that ended more than 20 years of war between the two territories. Authorities have repeatedly denied rumors of health problems.
The arrested journalists are cameramen Joseph Oliver and Mustafa Osman, video editor Victor Lado, employee Jacob Benjamin and control room operators Cherbek Ruben and Joval Toombe.
Oyet, the union leader, said he was concerned that the six people had been held for longer than the 24hour legal limit for suspect detention after which they should have been taken to court.
In a note, the organization called for the investigation to be stopped quickly. “If there has been professional misconduct or misconduct,” the authorities should “deal with it fairly, transparently and in accordance with the law,” it says.
Out there
SubSaharan Africa representative in the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), Muthoki Mumo, said the incident confirmed a “tendency by the security forces to resort to arbitrary arrests when they believe media coverage is unfavorable”.
“The authorities must release journalists unconditionally and ensure that they can work without being intimidated or threatened with arrest,” he added.