Reports from local Juba sources say that the journalist who covered the live broadcast in which the head of state Salvar Kiir Mayadit is seen urinating on himself at a public function is dead.
A viral Facebook post made by Adau Garang Ding suggests that the journalist in question committed suicide after he was thoughtful of the reprisals that awaited him for disclosing the viral social media clip. However, this event according to reports was a live real-time broadcast and not a pre-recorded moment that could have been edited to save the president from humiliation.
The same Facebook post attributed to Adau Garang Ding indicates that the journalist committed suicide and had a note praying for remorse. Our reporter visited Facebook to ascertain the authenticity of the Adau Garang Ding post and noticed that it has since been deleted from the social media platform.
The same Facebook post attributed to Adau Garang Ding indicates that the journalist committed suicide and had a note praying for remorse. Our reporter visited Facebook to ascertain the authenticity of the Adau Garang Ding post and noticed that it has since been deleted from the social media platform.
Other reports indicate that journalists who were part of the event are being disappeared one at ago.
South Sudan is one of the unsafe zones for press freedoms according to a recent media freedom survey.
Background
The 71-year-old Mayardit peed himself during the recitation of the national anthem and the event was broadcast live on television, meaning that nothing could be done to rectify the embarrassing situation.
He is said to be suffering from a urinary tract infection, which is common in older men.
The viral video elicited mixed reactions from the international community and Sani said the President may have been extremely patriotic.
“I have seen a viral video of the President of South Sudan wetting himself in public,” said Shehu Sani.
“This may be a urinary sickness or an extreme act of patriotism; refusal to excuse himself while the national anthem was being played,” he added.
