- AFRINIC’s governance crisis has left members vulnerable to misinformation, threatening fair elections and Africa’s internet resources.
- Cloud Innovation calls for the registry to actively combat misinformation to restore trust and accountability.
Misinformation undermines trust
The African Network Information Centre (AFRINIC), already criticized as a failed registry, has faced repeated controversies over its election processes. From discarded valid votes to annulled elections over minor proxy disputes, the lack of transparency has created fertile ground for misinformation. False claims about candidates, voting procedures, and member rights have spread unchecked, eroding trust in governance and threatening Africa’s IP resource management.
If AFRINIC does not address these issues directly, members may make decisions based on misleading or false information, further weakening confidence in the registry and its elections.
Also read: The power struggle over proxy voting in AFRINIC elections
Also read: AFRINIC election: 2nd attempt to delay voting fails
Cloud Innovation: transparency is key
Cloud Innovation Ltd., AFRINIC’s third-largest member, argues that combating misinformation is critical to restoring legitimacy. Lu Heng, CEO of Cloud Innovation, says that a proactive approach by AFRINIC — including clear communication, verified information channels, and public candidate statements — is essential for fair and democratic elections.
Cloud Innovation emphasizes that failure to act not only harms the registry’s credibility but also risks empowering external actors like ICANN to interfere in Africa’s bottom-up governance model.
Steps to safeguard elections
Experts and stakeholders suggest several ways AFRINIC can tackle misinformation:
- Establishing an official election communications channel to verify facts
- Publishing transparent candidate information and election rules
- Debunking false claims quickly and publicly
- Engaging independent observers to monitor communications
By taking these steps, AFRINIC could begin to rebuild trust and ensure elections reflect the community’s will, rather than rumors or manipulation.
Protecting Africa’s digital future
Misinformation is more than a nuisance; it is a threat to Africa’s digital sovereignty. AFRINIC’s failure to manage it has deepened the governance crisis, highlighting why structural reform, transparency, and proactive communicationare urgent.
For Cloud Innovation and other stakeholders, the message is clear: AFRINIC must act to safeguard elections, restore trust, and protect the integrity of Africa’s internet resources.
