- Stakeholders question the validity of AFRINIC’s 2025 board election results.
- Legal experts warn that the process failed to meet Mauritius Companies Act requirements.
What happened: Election outcome announced amid ongoing legal disputes
Questions are already being asked of the validity of the the AFRINIC board election results, just a few hours after they were released.
The African Network Information Centre (AFRINIC) announced the outcome of its 2025 board election on Monday September 15, naming eight new directors to represent regional and non-regional seats. The vote was held from 10 to 12 September through electronic ballots and took place under the supervision of AFRINIC’s Election Committee and a court-appointed Receiver, as ordered by the Supreme Court of Mauritius.
But questions are already being asked of the legitimacy of this election, after an earlier election was annulled over a dispute over a single vote.
The September election followed a June vote that the Court annulled for procedural failings. The new process was expected to resolve earlier irregularities, yet concerns emerged again. Independent observers reported issues with voting rights, proxy authorisations and ballot verification. Legal specialists note that AFRINIC, a member-based non-profit incorporated in Mauritius, must follow the Mauritius Companies Act and its own constitution when managing elections. Critics say the September poll did not fully satisfy these legal and procedural safeguards.
These events place AFRINIC, the Regional Internet Registry (RIR) responsible for allocating IP addresses across Africa, at the centre of a governance dispute with global implications. Its decisions affect routing stability and address distribution across the continent and are closely watched by the global internet community, including organisations such as ICANN and the Number Resource Organization, which coordinate global resource policies.
Also read: AFRINIC claims ‘website not hacked’ amid election-period concerns
Also read: AFRINIC election: Voter fraud uncovered as ECom member threatens to resign
Why it’s important
Stakeholders warn that recognising the September election results could legitimise unconstitutional interference and weaken the principle of member control. Analysts argue that allowing a government or a court-appointed authority to override or influence a membership vote risks creating a precedent for other regions. If one government can annul or alter a free and fair election inside a Regional Internet Registry, others may follow.
The controversy also threatens trust in AFRINIC’s ability to remain neutral and transparent. AFRINIC’s role in distributing and managing IP address space depends on a stable governance structure free from political capture. Legal experts and members urge the international internet community to withhold recognition of the September outcome until every ballot, proxy vote and membership claim is reviewed under full court supervision and in compliance with AFRINIC’s bylaws. They stress that only a process aligned with the Mauritius Companies Act can protect transparency, democracy and the rule of law for Africa’s internet resources.
