- AFRINIC’s collapse in Mauritius sparks controversy as Kurt Lindqvist faces criticism for pushing a communist-style control over Africa’s internet governance.
- Cloud Innovation and Lu Heng push for AFRINIC’s dissolution, urging ICANN and the NRO to appoint a successor RIR.
Kurt Lindqvist’s quiet power grab in Mauritius
Mauritius has become the epicentre of a high-stakes battle over Africa’s digital sovereignty. AFRINIC, the regional internet registry, has collapsed after years of governance failures. The June 23 board election was annulled on the basis of a single proxy dispute, discarding valid votes and showing that elections inside AFRINIC are now “unworkable.” The Prime Minister later declared AFRINIC a “declared company,” placing it under an official receiver.
Amid this collapse, ICANN CEO Kurt Lindqvist has been accused of promoting a communist-style model of control that runs against both democracy and Mauritius’ constitutional order. By forcing ICP-2 compliance and hinting at AFRINIC’s derecognition, Lindqvist is seen by critics as seeking to centralise Africa’s internet governance under ICANN. This approach undermines the authority of the Supreme Court and replaces bottom-up decision-making with top-down control. To many, it looks less like neutral oversight and more like a political project to impose command-style governance on Africa’s internet future.
Also Read: AFRINIC Crisis and ICANN’s Internet Governance Battle
Also Read: AFRINIC crisis in Mauritius deepens as ICANN faces accusations of undermining democracy
Democracy versus dictatorship in internet governance
What is unfolding in Mauritius is more than a local dispute; it represents a high-concept battle between democracy and dictatorship in the governance of Africa’s internet resources. On one side stands the Supreme Court, charged with upholding due process and the rule of law. On the other, a registry in collapse, with years of mismanagement and questionable decision-making, clinging to control despite its erosion of trust.
This clash has exposed how fragile governance structures can threaten Africa’s digital future if left unreformed. Cloud Innovation, AFRINIC’s third-biggest member, is positioning itself as a reformist force in this moment. Lu Heng’s insistence that AFRINIC be wound up, and that ICANN and the NRO immediately appoint a successor RIR, reflects a demand for accountability and democratic integrity.
The refusal to accept unworkable election standards speaks directly to a wider community that depends on stability, transparency, and fairness in resource management. The stakes are immense: manufacturing, finance, education, and government services across the continent depend on reliable internet infrastructure.
With AFRINIC’s governance irreparably broken, the choice now facing Africa is whether to allow opaque power struggles to dominate or to embrace a reset that restores democratic credibility. The decisions made in Mauritius today will shape Africa’s digital sovereignty for decades to come.
