- AFRINIC’s governance problems show the risks of unclear management of internet resources in Africa.
- Open and transparent models can protect fair access and support digital growth across emerging economies.
AFRINIC’s crisis and the challenge of governance
AFRINIC, the Regional Internet Registry in Africa, has been caught in a governance crisis that has moved far beyond a local dispute. The registry was established to distribute internet number resources, including IPv4 and IPv6 addresses, to operators across the continent. These resources are the foundation for every digital service, from telecom operators to start-ups. Yet AFRINIC has been drawn into internal conflict, corruption claims, and a prolonged series of legal proceedings in Mauritius. The organisation’s work has slowed to the point that many providers cannot obtain the addresses they need. For countries where networks are still fragile, this failure is not abstract but immediate, since development goals are closely tied to the growth of internet infrastructure.
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The digital divide and fair access to resources
Across Africa, the digital divide remain the Starks. Major cities such like Lagos, Nairobi, and Johannesburg shows the strong connectivity, but rural and remote areas continue to wait for reliable access. The role of AFRINIC should be to make sure allocation of resources is fair so that smaller providers can compete with larger firms and governments. When that role is undermined, inequality grows. Closed or poorly monitored systems often give advantage to a handful of actors, leaving weaker markets behind. The result is that millions remain offline, and digital inclusion becomes harder to achieve. Policy specialists stress that transparent allocation of addresses is essential for investment and planning. If operators and entrepreneurs know that rules are applied openly, they can prepare projects with some certainty. Without this, risk increases and expansion slows.
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Innovation held back by weak institutions
Innovation in Africa is often cited as one of the continent’s strongest assets, yet it depends on stable and fair access to the basic resources of the internet. Start-ups working in mobile banking, healthcare platforms, or digital education cannot operate if address allocation is blocked or delayed. The AFRINIC crisis illustrates how quickly disputes at the registry level can hold back wider progress. Young firms face additional costs, and some may relocate services to regions where governance is clearer. In contrast, an open system reduces barriers and makes it easier for a wide range of developers to build new tools. Interoperability and data access policies also benefit when governance is not restricted to a narrow group. This environment encourages solutions designed for local conditions rather than imported models that may not fit.
Openness as a foundation for resilience
Resilience is another reason openness matters. Africa is now the target for cybercrime, misinformation, and geopolitical pressure. The registry that is paralysed by disputes cannot be organise effective responses or coordinate with international partners. Secretive or politicised control may appear to offer stability, but in practice it creates fragility. Once trust is lost, cooperation will breaks down. By contrast, the transparent processes has involved multiple stakeholders—governments, private companies, civil society, and technical experts—allow risks to be spotted sooner and addressed together. Regional coordination on subsea cables or data centres becomes possible when confidence exists that no single actor dominates. In this way, open governance strengthens resilience rather than weakening it.
Lessons for other emerging markets
The crisis also has a global dimension. The internet is shared system, and instability in Africa affects is not only in the region but also the international networks. As the continent adds millions of new users in each year, the way resources are managed will shape future connectivity. If closed models persist, fragmentation will rise and cross-border services will suffer. This could increase costs and slow trade and research cooperation. If open governance is adopted, Africa can grow as a partner in the global digital economy. This is why international organisations such as the Internet Society and the United Nations promote open participation and stronger institutional capacity. They recognise that the governance choices in Africa will influence internet stability far beyond the continent.
The situation within AFRINIC is not isolated. Other fast-growing markets face similar risks of capture or political interference. The lesson is simple: governance systems in emerging markets must combine strength with openness. Institutions need enough independence to withstand pressure, but they also require transparent checks that prevent abuse. Without both, instability is almost certain. AFRINIC’s difficulties are a warning to Africa and to other regions preparing for digital expansion.
