Libyan Foreign Minister Abdel Hadi Al-Huwaij faces intense scrutiny after hosting Amadou Lamine Sano, who falsely claimed to be a presidential envoy and special advisor to the President of Guinea-Bissau.
The controversy has triggered a parliamentary inquiry as officials seek to unravel the circumstances surrounding the diplomatic blunder.
On November 4, Al-Huwaij, in his official capacity, met with Sano at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Benghazi.
Sano was introduced as the “Minister of State and Special Advisor to the President of Guinea-Bissau.” During the meeting, discussions reportedly covered “regional and international issues of mutual interest.”
Photographs of the meeting circulated widely in Libyan media before the truth about Sano’s identity emerged.
The Foreign Affairs Committee of Libya’s House of Representatives, led by Chairman Yousef Al-Aqouri, has taken up the matter, delving into the details of the meeting and the discussions that took place with the “imposter.”
The session has been marked by heated exchanges, with Al-Huwaij defending the ministry’s policies against accusations of negligence.
Responding to the allegations, Al-Huwaij claimed during a press conference that Sano was a prominent figure in Guinea-Bissau and held valid official passports.
He dismissed accusations of a failure in due diligence as part of a “suspicious media campaign” aimed at tarnishing the ministry’s reputation.
The situation escalated when the government of Guinea-Bissau outright denied Libya’s version of events, asserting that Sano had no official affiliation with their administration.
They urged Libyan authorities to implement stringent measures to prevent such incidents in the future.
This diplomatic debacle echoes a similar case in 2018, when an individual impersonated a Maltese Prime Ministerial envoy in Libya.
The incident has reignited concerns over procedural lapses and the need for robust verification in international relations.
The Libyan Parliament has vowed to continue its investigation, emphasizing the importance of transparency and accountability in protecting the country’s diplomatic integrity.
