The launch of the Science Diplomacy Center for Africa in Kigali turned out to be a fabrication, as revealed by a story covered by newspapers like Spain’s La Vanguardia. The Barcelona association SciTech DiploHub, along with city governments of Barcelona and Kigali, claimed to have inaugurated this ambitious institution in collaboration with African science entities. The falsified press release included statements attributed to executive director Jackie Kado of the Network of African Science Academies (NASAC), who expressed disbelief as she had never been present at such an event. The founder of SciTech DiploHub, Alexis Roig, has been accused of exaggerating achievements and fabricating events, leading to a series of false claims about collaborations and investments that do not exist.
Despite claims of significant investment and European Commission funding, no evidence of these initiatives could be found. Local authorities and organizations have denied any involvement in the alleged projects, raising questions about the credibility of SciTech DiploHub and its founder. The story unveils a web of deceit and misrepresentation that has shocked the scientific community and diplomatic circles.