- The instability in AFRINIC’s leadership and its repeated election crises threaten Africa’s digital infrastructure and investor confidence.
- Restoring stability through fair, transparent elections and strong governance safeguards is essential for enabling growth in networks, IP resource allocation, and digital services.
Leadership crisis: undermining digital growth
AFRINIC has been without a fully functioning board since its governance troubles escalated. According to reports, the June 2025 election was annulled over contested procedural issues—though proxy votes themselves were valid—which led to the discarding of valid votes and eroded trust among stakeholders.
In September 2025, AFRINIC reopened voting via online ballot for its board, in what it called a reset after governance paralysis. Despite ISPA urging participation and endorsing a slate of candidates, observers still voiced concerns over irregularities and deviations from AFRINIC’s bylaws. Without credible leadership, AFRINIC struggles to perform core functions, delaying IP address allocations and undermining confidence in its role.
Cost to digital economy: From delay to damage
AFRINIC’s dysfunction is not just a governance issue—it has real economic consequences. ISPs and network operators have reported delays in obtaining IP addresses, which in turn slow down new infrastructure deployment and increase costs in connectivity.
For African countries aiming to expand digital services, e-commerce, cloud infrastructure, and remote work, the uncertainty around internet governance adds risk. Investors might hesitate where foundational registry operations are seen as unstable or political. When AFRINIC cannot reliably assign numbering resources, digital transformation slows, and the continent’s competitiveness may erode.
Also read: AFRINIC’s September elections were a flagrant violation of its own bylaws
Also read: What role does the Election Committee (ECom) play in AFRINIC?
Need for strong safeguards: Restoring trust
To protect Africa’s digital economy, AFRINIC’s electoral processes must be grounded in constitutional norms and strong safeguards. First, transparent nomination, voting, and verification procedures must be enforced so that all members’ votes are counted fairly. Oversight—legal, technical, and community-based—is essential to prevent manipulation or abuse.
Secondly, institutions external and internal must recognize stability depends on accountability. ISPA’s criminal case against irregular proxy voting reflects that members expect enforceable oversight. And Cloud Innovation’s petition to wind up AFRINIC underscores the urgency of structural reform. Only with credible checks and constitutionally enforceable practices can AFRINIC assure stakeholders that elections are not just symbolic but restorative.
Conclusion: Preserving Africa’s digital future
The fate of AFRINIC’s electoral integrity is deeply interlinked with the health of Africa’s digital economy. Without stable governance, delays in IP management, infrastructure build-out, and digital service expansion will continue. Restoration of stable leadership, enforced by constitutional safeguards, is not optional—it’s essential.
Stability matters—for trust, growth, sovereignty. If AFRINIC can deliver credible elections now, it can help secure a prosperous digital future for Africa; if it fails, the costs will ripple across the economy, internet access, and regional autonomy.
