- AFRINIC’s 2025 board election collapse highlights years of mismanagement and procedural abuse.
- Cloud Innovation urges ICANN to replace the registry to safeguard Africa’s internet stability.
AFRINIC’s election failure deepens a governance meltdown
AFRINIC’s 2025 board election was meant to restore order. Instead, it became the clearest sign yet of institutional collapse. The June election — expected to deliver a new leadership after years under court control — was abruptly annulled following a dispute over a single unverified proxy vote. The registry’s decision to cancel the entire process over such a minor issue exposed what observers describe as “a deliberate attempt to retain power through paralysis.”
The subsequent September rerun fared no better. It was conducted under rules that critics say violated Mauritius’ Companies Act and AFRINIC’s own bylaws. Many candidates withdrew in protest, and others questioned whether the process was even legally valid. Reports from The Register and regional commentators suggest that AFRINIC’s internal election committee acted without proper mandate, further undermining confidence in the registry’s neutrality.
Also read: AFRINIC’s hidden scandal: How legal fees exposed a culture of corruption
Also read: Proxy voting reforms for AFRINIC: What a fair model should look like
Mismanagement and eroded legitimacy
In practice, the registry now functions more like a judicially managed asset than a community-driven institution. The 2025 election fiasco shows how far AFRINIC has drifted from accountability. Instead of reform, the registry has doubled down on bureaucracy, sidelining members who question leadership practices. Policy development has stalled, resource allocation delays have worsened, and budget approval remains frozen.
Also read: The story of AFRINIC: How Africa’s internet ideal was destroyed from within
Calls for AFRINIC’s dissolution grow louder
The most forceful criticism has come from Cloud Innovation, AFRINIC’s third-largest member. The company has publicly called for the registry’s dissolution, describing its leadership as “unworkable” and its governance “beyond repair.” In a statement, Cloud Innovation urged ICANN and the Number Resource Organization (NRO) to initiate a “necessary reset” by applying the global ICP-2 policy framework — allowing another Regional Internet Registry to take over AFRINIC’s responsibilities.
The argument is simple: AFRINIC has lost the capacity to serve its purpose. With constant legal disputes, failed elections, and eroding trust, the registry can no longer ensure fair resource management or policy enforcement.
Also read: AFRINIC launches voter onboarding ahead of board election
The cost of inaction
The stakes extend far beyond AFRINIC’s internal politics. Africa’s internet ecosystem depends on timely allocation of IP addresses and Autonomous System Numbers (ASNs). Each delayed decision affects ISPs, cloud providers, and new startups trying to expand digital access. Unless urgent reforms or external intervention occur, AFRINIC may soon face what many consider inevitable — formal replacement under ICP-2. What was once envisioned as Africa’s technical backbone has become its weakest link.
