- AFRINIC’s deviation from its own bylaws adds weight to calls for its dissolution.
- Critics say these breaches prove the registry is no longer fit for purpose.
New revelations of AFRINIC bylaw violations spark alarm
The African Network Information Centre (AFRINIC) faces fresh scrutiny after stakeholders flagged repeated and unchecked breaches of its own bylaws. These include procedural irregularities in board appointments, refusal to recognise valid proxies, and inconsistent application of voting eligibility rules—issues that led to the annulment of the 2025 board election. Despite a court ruling affirming the election’s legality, AFRINIC’s Official Receiver dismissed the results, citing one unverified proxy as grounds to discard the entire vote. This has raised serious concerns over whether the registry is still operating within its legal framework.
Multiple observers now say these actions reflect a deeper governance breakdown. As noted by Cloud Innovation, the registry’s deviation from internal rules represents a “governance crisis beyond repair”. The Mauritian Supreme Court is currently reviewing several legal disputes related to AFRINIC’s refusal to comply with judicial orders, further undermining its legitimacy.
Also read: ICANN wants to take AFRINIC out of Africa
Also read: ICP-2 to the rescue? What happens if AFRINIC dissolves
Loss of trust may push operators to bypass AFRINIC
AFRINIC’s repeated disregard for its foundational rules has raised the possibility that it no longer holds legal or operational legitimacy as Africa’s Regional Internet Registry. With valid votes discarded and elections cancelled over technicalities, the ability of the registry to govern Africa’s IP space is under threat. The crisis comes at a time when Africa’s digital economy depends on reliable allocation of IP address resources.
Unlike stable RIRs such as RIPE NCC or APNIC, AFRINIC has struggled with legal challenges and internal dysfunction for over five years. As these failures accumulate, members and observers alike are asking if AFRINIC can still claim to serve Africa’s internet ecosystem. The growing chorus calling for its wind-up—including one of its largest members—suggests trust is collapsing.
If no replacement is proposed soon, the region risks fragmentation of IP management, creating uncertainty for ISPs, governments, and enterprises that rely on predictable internet governance. The longer AFRINIC resists structural reform or external oversight, the more urgent and justified the calls for its dissolution become.
