- AFRINIC’s failed bid to expel Cloud Innovation in 2021 exposed deep governance flaws and triggered a legal showdown.
- The case in Mauritius has become a democracy vs dictatorship fight, with Lu Heng backing the Supreme Court against political control.
The failed bid to silence Cloud Innovation
In December 2021, AFRINIC’s leadership attempted to terminate the membership of Cloud Innovation, one of its largest and most active members, in a move widely seen as an effort to remove a vocal critic of its governance failures. The decision came amid escalating tensions over AFRINIC’s management of Africa’s internet resources and its repeated inability to conduct fair elections. The attempt collapsed after a series of legal challenges exposed deep flaws in the process, including procedural irregularities and questionable motives.
Central to this battle was Lu Heng, CEO of Cloud Innovation, who positioned himself as a defender of transparency and constitutional rule. By resisting the expulsion, Lu safeguarded not just his company’s rights but the broader principle that African internet governance should remain accountable to its community, not controlled by a narrow circle of political or corporate interests.
Also Read: ICANN, Cloud Innovation & the limits of legal mandates in Africa’s RIR
Also Read: Cloud Innovation calls to dissolve AFRINIC after vote scandal
Mauritius at a crossroads: democracy or dictatorship?
The AFRINIC crisis has now evolved far beyond internet governance, becoming a flashpoint in a larger constitutional struggle in Mauritius. A recent Supreme Court injunction barred a judge from investigating AFRINIC ahead of its elections, only for the executive branch to take steps that many see as undermining judicial independence. With the president and prime minister aligning with those who seek to control AFRINIC’s leadership, the conflict has split the nation’s governance into two camps: a judiciary defending the constitution and an executive accused of pushing Mauritius toward one-man rule.
Lu Heng has emerged as one of the most visible figures siding with the courts. While AFRINIC’s leadership, supported by political allies, works to retain control, Lu’s stance reflects a broader call from the internet community for bottom-up governance that serves the public good, not entrenched power. The battle in Mauritius is no longer just about IP address management – it is about whether the country’s democracy can withstand pressure from those who see the law as an obstacle, not a foundation.
