Video of South Sudanese president peeing his pants sparks online debate

There’s been a stream of debate.

Live TV footage of South Sudan’s president wetting himself has led several African politicians to defend the man online, while others say the embarrassing incident shows it’s time for the leader to pass the baton.

Salva Kiir, 71, was standing for South Sudan’s national anthem at a ceremony to open a road on Dec. 13 when a puddle began accumulating at his feet.

After Kiir looked down and noticed that he was urinating on himself, the broadcast cut away from the peeing president.

Many observers immediately questioned if Kiir was fit to continue leading the country of 11 million people. Kiir has ruled South Sudan since the nation achieved independence from Sudan in 2011. In that time, the country has been beset by poverty, hunger and conflict, among other issues.

“You can imagine African leaders with power, they are old and unfit, their greed and quest for money and power won’t allow them rest!!!! What a national disgrace,” wrote one commenter, who also criticized Nigerian leadership specifically.

A Nigerian politician stepped in to defend Kiir and refused to share the video.

“This may be a urinary sickness or an extreme act of patriotism; refusal to excuse himself while the national anthem was being played,” Sen. Shehu Sani wrote on Twitter.

He was not the only person to stick his leg out in defense of Kiir.

“Some of us have [been] so concerned about the health of Pres. Kiir, instead some people called us enemies of peace & state,” frequent Kiir critic Wani Michael wrote. “I can’t mock his health even if I don’t agree with his heath.”