Journalists arrested over viral video of Sudan's president wetting himself

Nairobi: Six journalists were arrested in Sudan over a video reportedly showing President Salva Kiir urinating on himself. The footage went viral on social media in December.

The President was seen in his usual black hat and a grey outfit at a road commissioning ceremony. A wet substance was seen staining his left trouser leg. The video was posted on YouTube and not broadcast on a channel.

The staff at the state-run South Sudan Broadcasting Corporation were arrested by the National Security Service. An official from SSBC told an independent station Radio Tamazuj that the outlet did not broadcast the footage.

Media rights groups have called for their release. The Union of Journalists of South Sudan has called for a speedy conclusion of the investigation. The journalists are said to have knowledge of the release of the footage. "If there is a prima facie case of professional misconduct or offence then let authorities expedite an administrative or legal process to address the issue in a fair, transparent (manner) and in accordance with the law," said the union.

CPJ's sub-Saharan Africa representative Muthoki Mumo said the arrest matches with a pattern of security personnel resorting to arbitrary detention whenever officials deem coverage unfavourable. "Authorities should unconditionally release these six SSBC employees and ensure that they can work without further intimidation or threat of arrest," reported AFP.