- AFRINIC’s flawed June 2025 election confirms critical governance failure at the registry.
- Cloud Innovation pushes for AFRINIC’s dissolution to protect Africa’s digital infrastructure.
‘Unworkable’ elections betray institutional collapse
AFRINIC, Africa’s Regional Internet Registry, has entered a new stage of crisis after its June 2025 board elections were suspended just hours before the close of voting, over a single unverified proxy dispute. Hundreds of members—including those physically present—were prevented from voting, a move widely criticised as disenfranchisement and administrative breakdown. Even ICANN publicly questioned the credibility of AFRINIC’s electoral process and raised the possibility of sanctions if such irregularities continued (circleid.com).
Cloud Innovation Ltd, AFRINIC’s third-largest member, responded by filing a formal petition to dissolve AFRINIC, citing the registry’s structural failure and inability to conduct democratic governance. The petition argued that AFRINIC has been under court receivership since 2023 and has lacked a functioning CEO and board since 2022, rendering it legally and operationally defunct (cloudinnovation.org).
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
AFRINIC failure undermines Africa’s internet infrastructure
This unfolding crisis is more than procedural failure—it endangers Africa’s entire IP governance framework. AFRINIC’s inability to conduct credible elections, operate under leadership, or manage IPv4 allocations has significantly impaired trust in its stewardship. A court-appointed receiver has been in place since 2023, yet operational paralysis has continued, with the board and CEO positions vacant for years.
Cloud Innovation’s evolution from supporting AFRINIC receivership to demanding outright dissolution underscores a collapsing confidence in reform. Its petition argues that AFRINIC must be replaced by a new registry that can reliably allocate IP addresses and support connectivity expansion across Africa—particularly as IPv4 resources dwindle. New elections are scheduled for August 2025, but questions about legitimacy linger. Issues with proxy validation, member representation, and oversight remain unresolved. With businesses, governments, and communities across Africa relying on stable internet infrastructure, AFRINIC’s collapse raises fundamental questions: who will govern Africa’s IP future—and at what risk to regional sovereignty and connectivity?
