Adopting Bitcoin is not as easy as some might think. It needs an appropriate economic, legal and infrastructure environment. There are many things that any country needs to succeed in adopting Bitcoin. It is not just a decision that is issued and it is over.
If only 10% of the population has access to the Internet, how can this adoption work? Bitcoin is a virtual currency that works only on the Internet, and without the presence of the Internet and the appropriate infrastructure, this cannot work.
The main problem is that some countries (especially the poor ones) think that adopting Bitcoin is a solution to their economic problems, and this is not true.
You are absolutely right. I think they initially did this as a form of good publicity so the public forgets about their problems.