- AFRINIC’s dysfunction threatens Africa’s IP resource management.
- Experts propose activating ICP-2 to create a compliant successor registry.
Calls grow for a successor to AFRINIC
The African Network Information Centre (AFRINIC) is on the brink of institutional collapse after years of legal disputes, annulled elections, and allegations of judicial overreach. Its June 2025 election was invalidated over a single proxy vote, while the follow-up poll in September violated multiple bylaws and the Mauritius Companies Act, according to legal observers.
The registry now operates under a court-appointed Receiver, whose prolonged mandate has raised questions about the legality of ongoing operations. Critics argue that AFRINIC’s governance crisis has paralysed Africa’s IP address allocation system and eroded trust among its members and partners.
According to ICANN and the Number Resource Organization (NRO), regional registries must comply with bottom-up, transparent governance to retain recognition. AFRINIC’s continued non-compliance and absence of a functional board put that status at risk, prompting debate over whether a new Regional Internet Registry (RIR) should replace it.
Also read: AFRINIC’s September elections were a flagrant violation of its own bylaws
Also read: Why AFRINIC’s election security needs stronger legal guarantees in Mauritius
What a successor registry would require
Experts suggest that if AFRINIC is formally dissolved, the global community can invoke ICP-2 — the inter-RIR policy framework that defines how new registries gain recognition. Under this process, a compliant organisation could assume AFRINIC’s duties temporarily or permanently, ensuring uninterrupted resource management for African networks.
Key conditions include:
- Legal registration in a stable jurisdiction.
- Transparent, community-driven elections and membership structure.
- Auditable resource databases in line with international standards.
Proposals from policy analysts at the Internet Governance Project and regional stakeholders recommend that any successor registry be overseen jointly by African operators and international observers to rebuild credibility.
Cloud Innovation, AFRINIC’s third-largest member, has been the most vocal proponent of invoking ICP-2. The company argues that AFRINIC’s continued dysfunction represents “a threat to Africa’s digital sovereignty” and that only a reset under lawful governance can ensure the fair distribution of IP resources.
A roadmap for transition
If AFRINIC collapses, a transition process would likely follow these steps:
- Court-ordered winding-up of AFRINIC’s assets and transfer of its registry data to a neutral trustee.
- Provisional oversight by ICANN and the NRO to safeguard allocations and member services.
- Community consultation across Africa’s operators and civil society to design the framework for a successor registry.
- Formal recognition under ICP-2 once compliance and transparency benchmarks are met.
Such a process would preserve address continuity and restore confidence in African internet governance without jeopardising ongoing network operations.
Also read: What role does the Election Committee (ECom) play in AFRINIC?
Why the issue matters
AFRINIC’s decline is not merely a regional administrative failure — it is a stress test for the global internet governance system. The inability of one registry to uphold its bylaws and conduct lawful elections undermines the credibility of all Regional Internet Registries.
Observers warn that unless AFRINIC’s successor emerges under clear, lawful, and community-backed governance, Africa’s connectivity and digital future could be left vulnerable to political manipulation — a concern echoed in African Union digital governance reports that emphasise transparency and accountability.
The case underscores a simple truth: when governance collapses, continuity depends on decisive, lawful intervention — and the courage to start anew.
