South Sudan's president wets himself on live TV

The president of South Sudan was caught on camera wetting himself on live television while opening a new road project in the country.

Salva Kiir Mayardit has been in charge of South Sudan since it gained independence in 2011 from the north of Sudan.

But the 71-year-old faced an embarrassing moment at an event on Tuesday (13 December) as a damp patch appeared down his trousers while the national anthem was playing.

The president was in full view of the camera alongside many others at the road project ceremony, as he looked down to notice the damp patch.

The camera operator then appeared to move the shot away from Kiir, presumably so viewers can see no more.

Instead, the camera operator pans to the right and films two men alongside some soldiers standing for the national anthem.

Sahara Reporters say that the president is believed to suffer from a urinary tract infection (UTI), which likely brought on the sudden accident in public.

But as you'd expect with such a high-profile figure, the footage has been circulating on social media.

@ronaldmuhinda / Twitter

Reactions have been mixed, with some on Twitter offering support for the president as he continues to carry out public duties despite being seemingly being unwell.

One person said: "He's 71 years old, that's not uncommon at all at people of his age."

A second added: "Poor dude. Not his fault."

Meanwhile, a third said: "Those shouting take down the video how come the camera man didn’t stop the recording wen he saw wat had happened..!!"

Since South Sudan separated from the north in 2011, Kiir has remained a controversial figure for many.

Prior to its independence, he served as the President of the Government of Southern Sudan, as well as First Vice President of Sudan, from 2005 to 2011.

Peter Cavanagh / Alamy Stock Photo

One of the controversies is the reported torture and even murder of journalists in the South Sudan.

Political reporter in the country Moi Peter Julius was found murdered on the night on 19 August 2015 after being shot twice from behind.

His murder came just three days before Kiir publicly threatened journalists that 'freedom of the press does not mean that you work against your country. If anybody does not know that this country will kill people, we will demonstrate on them'.

A further five journalists were also suspiciously murdered in early 2015.