- AFRINIC’s collapse exposes deep governance failures that threaten Africa’s control over its digital future.
- Mauritius’ constitutional order faces strain as the state overrides court processes to manage the registry’s downfall.
AFRINIC’s governance collapse
AFRINIC, once the steward of Africa’s IP resources, has spiralled into dysfunction. The board was improperly constituted, elections were annulled, and valid votes were discarded after a proxy dispute. These failures revealed a “failed registry” where democratic processes became unworkable and trust in governance evaporated. Prolonged litigation with Cloud Innovation Ltd., its third-biggest member, pushed AFRINIC into receivership, cementing its collapse.
Also read: Constitutional tensions in Mauritius as AFRINIC flounders
A constitutional crisis for Mauritius
Instead of leaving the judiciary to resolve the matter, the Mauritian government declared AFRINIC a “declared company” under the Companies Act. This move froze legal actions and empowered a state-appointed inspector, effectively overruling court processes. For many, this raised alarms about separation of powers, suggesting the executive branch is undermining judicial independence. The crisis now stretches beyond AFRINIC, becoming a constitutional test for Mauritius.
Also read: AFRINIC mess hits headlines in Mauritius’ top newspaper
Citizens’ role in accountability
Mauritian citizens—and Africans at large—have a stake in defending constitutional safeguards and demanding accountability in digital governance. Without public vigilance, opaque decision-making risks becoming the norm, both in internet governance and in national institutions. At the same time, external actors such as ICANN are accused of attempting a “quiet power grab,” threatening Africa’s autonomy in managing its digital future. Citizens’ pressure is therefore essential to ensure both constitutional integrity at home and transparent stewardship of Africa’s internet resources.
Also read: 5 people destroying AFRINIC and turning Mauritius into an anarchy
