- Cloud Innovation says AFRINIC no longer functions as a credible registry due to governance failures and persistent legal obstruction
- The company calls for a structured dissolution and appointment of a successor entity under established global procedures
A legal petition filed over prolonged leadership void
Cloud Innovation has filed an official petition for the legal dissolution of AFRINIC, the regional internet registry (RIR) responsible for IP address allocation in Africa. The company contends that AFRINIC has been unable to restore its leadership structure through lawful elections, following repeated internal disputes and court interventions. It points to recent failed election efforts, annulled ballots, and ongoing board-level disputes as evidence that no legitimate governance can be established under current conditions.
The petition outlines a series of legal and procedural steps already taken to stabilise the registry, including court-appointed oversight mechanisms. Despite these measures, AFRINIC has failed to demonstrate institutional recovery. Cloud Innovation asserts that the registry now lacks the operational structure required to manage the continent’s IP resources, and that continued attempts to resolve these issues internally have not succeeded
Also read: Cloud Innovation calls for AFRINIC wind-up after ‘impossible’ election standards
Also read: EXPOSED: The letter that reveals who was really benefitting from AFRINIC’s lawsuits
Registry collapse raises global internet stability concerns
AFRINIC plays a central role in internet governance across 56 African economies. Its core functions include distributing IP address space, managing related databases, and supporting regional internet growth. If these responsibilities cannot be executed reliably, the impact could reach internet providers, infrastructure operators and end-users across the continent.
Cloud Innovation argues that a managed dissolution process is necessary to prevent further uncertainty and service degradation. By requesting that responsibilities be transferred to a new or existing body under internationally accepted procedures, it believes a smooth transition can be achieved. The aim is to preserve operational continuity while restoring compliance with recognised governance standards.
The call for AFRINIC’s dissolution reflects broader concerns about how regional internet registries maintain accountability. It also raises questions about how to address organizational failure in technical bodies that manage critical internet infrastructure. Cloud Innovation positions its request as a necessary intervention to ensure that Africa’s IP address allocation is governed transparently, lawfully and effectively going forward.