- The Smart Africa CAIGA initiative seeks to harmonise internet governance frameworks and improve Africa’s voice in global digital discussions.
- Critics warn that CAIGA could blur lines between political decision-making and the technical, community-driven governance model used by AFRINIC.
Introduction
The Smart Africa CAIGA initiative — the Continental Africa Internet Governance Architecture — has become one of the most closely watched developments in African digital policy. Introduced by Smart Africa, a multilateral body focused on advancing Africa’s digital transformation, CAIGA proposes a continent-wide structure for improving policy coordination, supporting capacity building and strengthening Africa’s participation in global internet governance.
Supporters see CAIGA as a long-overdue step toward reducing fragmentation across African digital regulations. Critics, however, warn that it may introduce political influence into technical governance processes that have traditionally operated independently from governments.
Also Read: CAIGA’s rise: What it means for AFRINIC members and operators
What the CAIGA initiative proposes
Smart Africa describes CAIGA as a collaborative framework designed to align national laws, develop shared governance standards and enhance digital resilience. The initiative includes:
- A continental policy coordination mechanism
- Support for capacity building and stakeholder training
- Alignment of national digital regulations
- Greater African participation in international forums such as ICANN and the ITU
These goals are framed as part of Africa’s broader effort to build a more secure, open and equitable digital environment. Proponents argue that CAIGA will help close long-standing gaps in infrastructure, regulatory capacity and multistakeholder representation.
Discussions around the initiative have gained momentum as Africa takes on bigger roles in global forums, where decisions about cybersecurity, critical infrastructure and domain governance increasingly affect national sovereignty.
Also Read: Who should govern Africa’s internet — AFRINIC or CAIGA?
How CAIGA could change AFRINIC and regional governance
A major point of attention is how CAIGA may influence AFRINIC, the regional internet registry responsible for allocating IP addresses and coordinating technical policy across the continent.
Supporters argue that CAIGA could:
- Improve institutional stability after several years of governance disputes
- Strengthen alignment between national governments and AFRINIC
- Provide structured support for reforms aimed at transparency and accountability
- Build resilience through coordinated digital policies
They view CAIGA as a mechanism for stabilising the region’s technical environment while ensuring African perspectives are represented internationally.
Also Read: Smart Africa’s CAIGA: Collaboration or centralisation of power?
Concerns and criticism
Several civil-society and technical-community voices have expressed concerns:
- Risk of politicisation: AFRINIC has historically operated as a bottom-up, community-led organisation. CAIGA, by contrast, is government-driven, raising fears that governments could influence technical decisions.
- Preserving the multistakeholder model: Critics argue that any reform must maintain transparent, community-based processes rather than centralised decision-making.
- Overlap and ambiguity: Some experts worry that CAIGA’s mandate may overlap with AFRINIC’s role, potentially creating confusion or jurisdictional tension.
These debates reflect long-standing global concerns: how to balance legitimate government interests with the need to preserve neutral, technically sound governance structures.
