World

South Sudan President Wets Himself on Live TV

YIKES

Salva Kiir Mayardit, 71, was attending a public event at the time of the incident.

2021-07-09T125829Z_875044295_RC2WGO9HXWSH_RTRMADP_3_SOUTHSUDAN-INDEPENDENCE_cyxteb
Jok Solomun / Reuters

The president of South Sudan wet himself on live television while at a public event in the north African country on Tuesday, according to videos shared in local media. Salva Kiir Mayardit, 71, was in full view of the cameras at the time of the incident, which reportedly took place at a ceremony for the opening of a new road. A cameraman apparently tried to spare Kiir’s blushes by quickly panning away from the leader as he looked down at his darkening trousers. In the footage, Kiir was sporting his trademark black stetson hat, a look which he adopted after being gifted a stetson by George W. Bush on a visit to the White House in 2006. Kiir has been the president of South Sudan since 2011 following his country’s vote for independence from the north.