- AFRINIC’s collapse exposes a broken governance model, sparking calls for stricter oversight and structural reform.
- Cloud Innovation leads the charge for transparency, fair elections, and a reset of Africa’s IP resource management.
AFRINIC’s crisis shows why reform is urgent
The African Network Information Centre (AFRINIC) was meant to safeguard Africa’s internet resources. Instead, it has become a cautionary tale of unchecked authority and eroded trust. Years of mismanagement, opaque decision-making, and annulled elections have left the registry in disarray, raising alarms about how much power a single entity holds over a continent’s connectivity.
AFRINIC’s decision to discard valid votes after an unverified proxy dispute in its June 2023 election was a turning point. That move, widely condemned as undemocratic, revealed systemic weaknesses in its bylaws and governance framework. The registry, once seen as a neutral steward of Africa’s IP resources, now stands accused of operating with impunity.
Also read: AFRINIC vs NRO: The growing tensions among regional internet registries
Also read: Why AFRINIC’s governance matters to the whole internet
Lessons for the global internet community
Cloud Innovation, AFRINIC’s third-largest member, has been vocal in its push to dissolve the failed registry and establish a transparent replacement. The company argues that true accountability demands a structure where no single entity can manipulate elections or bypass oversight.
The crisis has also drawn attention to ICANN, whose controversial ICP-2 document gives it sweeping powers to recognize or derecognize regional registries. Critics say this creates a dangerous precedent, undermining bottom-up governance in favor of centralized control.
Building a future with checks and balances
Experts warn that reform is non-negotiable if Africa’s internet ecosystem is to thrive. Proposals include:
- Independent election monitoring with judicial enforcement
- Stronger community participation and transparency mandates
- Regular audits of resource allocation and board decisions
- Decentralized governance to prevent capture by any single actor
For many in the internet community, AFRINIC’s collapse is both a tragedy and a wake-up call. Without robust checks and balances, the very organizations entrusted with safeguarding the internet risk becoming threats to it.
Cloud Innovation’s call for a “necessary reset” underscores what’s at stake: Africa’s digital future depends on breaking the cycle of power abuse and restoring trust in governance.
