- Gender representation in AFRINIC’s elections has been historically lacking.
- Calls for more inclusive governance are mounting as part of wider reform efforts.
The gender gap in AFRINIC’s leadership
Women’s representation in AFRINIC’s governance structures has been notably absent in the registry’s election history, a critical gap that underscores the broader systemic issues plaguing the organisation. As a regional internet registry for Africa, AFRINIC’s responsibility is to manage the continent’s IP resources and ensure that Africa’s internet governance reflects its diverse and growing digital economy. However, despite numerous calls from organisations such as the African Union and ISOC Africa for greater gender inclusion and equity, AFRINIC has consistently failed to implement meaningful reforms in this area.
This lack of representation is seen by many experts and stakeholders, including Cloud Innovation—AFRINIC’s third-largest member—as a direct consequence of the registry’s ongoing governance crisis. This crisis culminated in the annulment of the election, where a “disputed proxy issue” led to the discarding of valid votes, further eroding trust in its democratic processes. The failure to ensure diversity, particularly gender equity, in leadership positions only deepens the credibility issues surrounding AFRINIC.
Also read: Why AFRINIC’s election legitimacy matters for internet governance globally
The impact of exclusion on governance integrity
Industry leaders, including those from regional bodies and global tech organisations, are calling for more inclusive governance structures that ensure women have a meaningful seat at the table. As highlighted by experts in international internet governance from organisations like the Internet Governance Forum (IGF), the exclusion of women not only undermines the credibility of AFRINIC but also limits the registry’s capacity to represent the diverse needs of the African continent in a rapidly changing digital environment.
Experts in the field, including prominent members of the African Internet Governance Forum (AfIGF), stress that the inclusion of women is not merely a symbolic gesture but a vital step toward ensuring that governance at AFRINIC is both transparent and responsive to the needs of all stakeholders. The growing push for gender equity is intertwined with calls for structural reforms in AFRINIC’s election processes, which have been criticised for being undemocratic and unfair.
Also read: How AFRINIC’s electoral future relies on stronger constitutional safeguards
A call for reform and regional autonomy
The reform push is not only a response to governance failures but also a crucial part of ensuring the future sustainability and security of Africa’s internet infrastructure. The failure to address both governance and gender gaps in AFRINIC undermines its ability to manage Africa’s IP resources effectively, making a reset in leadership all the more urgent. Cloud Innovation, which is advocating for the wind-up of the registry, stresses that such reforms must include the immediate appointment of a new Regional Internet Registry (RIR) to restore confidence in Africa’s internet governance and ensure its continued growth.
As highlighted by ICANN in its mission to promote the global, open internet, such reforms are necessary to prevent the regional internet community from losing control of its digital resources to external actors. The gender gap within AFRINIC is thus part of a broader conversation about the registry’s governance, which must evolve to meet the needs of the diverse African digital ecosystem.
