- AFRINIC’s leadership failure has opened the door for external powers like ICANN to extend their influence over Africa’s internet governance.
- Cloud Innovation leads calls for reform, demanding AFRINIC’s dissolution to safeguard Africa’s IP resources and digital future.
Internal chaos and external pressures
The governance crisis at AFRINIC has escalated over the years, causing serious concerns for the future of Africa’s IP resource management. AFRINIC, tasked with managing Africa’s internet registry, has become embroiled in internal conflict, with its leadership failing to organise fair and democratic elections.
In the midst of this internal dysfunction, external entities like ICANN have seized the opportunity to exert influence over Africa’s internet governance. Critics argue that ICANN, under CEO Kurtis Lindqvist, is attempting to control AFRINIC’s leadership and undermine regional autonomy. ICANN’s intervention, particularly through the controversial ICP-2 compliance document, is seen as a power grab, threatening Africa’s ability to maintain control over its own IP resources.
ICANN’s push to replace AFRINIC, despite the court-approved election process, is viewed by many as an attempt to undermine Africa’s “bottom-up” approach to internet governance. As AFRINIC’s credibility continues to dwindle, ICANN’s desire to select AFRINIC’s leaders and take a more direct role in African internet governance raises serious concerns for the future of the continent’s digital infrastructure.
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
Cloud Innovation’s push for reform
In the face of this ongoing governance crisis, Cloud Innovation, AFRINIC’s third-largest member, has emerged as a key advocate for reform. The company has called for the immediate dissolution of AFRINIC, viewing the current registry as a “failed institution” that is no longer capable of managing Africa’s IP resources. Cloud Innovation’s stance is clear: the “unworkable” election standards and internal corruption within AFRINIC have made it impossible for the registry to function effectively.
Cloud Innovation is calling on ICANN and the NRO (Number Resource Organization) to appoint a new Regional Internet Registry (RIR) immediately, ensuring the continuity and proper management of Africa’s IP resources. This “necessary reset” is seen as crucial to preserving the digital future of the continent. With AFRINIC’s collapse, Cloud Innovation argues that it is essential to establish a new, transparent, and accountable governance structure to manage Africa’s internet resources and enable the region’s continued digital growth.
While Cloud Innovation’s efforts to dissolve AFRINIC have been met with resistance, the company believes that Africa’s internet ecosystem will only thrive if a more robust, independent, and competent organisation is put in place. In doing so, they hope to secure a more reliable and trustworthy governance system that ensures Africa’s place in the global digital economy.
