- Cloud Innovation leads the charge against AFRINIC’s governance failures and ICANN’s overreach in Africa’s internet space.
- The company calls for AFRINIC’s dissolution and the appointment of a new regional internet registry.
Africa’s internet governance could shift as the outcome of an essential litigation that includes Cloud Innovation Ltd., the third-largest member of AFRINIC. Cloud Innovation supports for reforms that would protect Africa’s digital infrastructure as the African continent deals in an ever more serious governance crisis.
AFRINIC’s governance crisis
AFRINIC, Africa’s regional internet registry, has faced ongoing governance issues for years. The latest controversy arose after the annulment of the June 23 election over a proxy dispute, leading to the discarding of valid votes. This move has eroded trust in AFRINIC’s ability to manage Africa’s IP resources.Many, including Cloud Innovation, claim that AFRINIC lacks the ability for overseeing Africa’s crucial internet resources due to internal dysfunction.
Cloud Innovation has become increasingly frustrated with AFRINIC’s inability to conduct fair, transparent elections. These failures have put Africa’s internet future at risk, prompting Cloud Innovation to call for a fundamental change in the region’s internet governance system.
Also read: Smart Africa leaks thousands of AFRINIC member email addresses
ICANN’s involvement and concerns over regional autonomy
Cloud Innovation’s legal battle extends beyond AFRINIC. The company also challenges ICANN, accusing it of overreaching its mandate in Africa. In accordance with Cloud Innovation and others, Africa’s regional autonomy in internet governance is put at risk by ICANN’s attempt to de-recognize AFRINIC. Coordination of the international transfer of IP addresses and domain names is the responsibility of ICANN. Cependant in accordance with Cloud Innovation and supporters of it, ICANN presents a threat to Africa’s bottom-up governance model. In regardless of Africa’s right to control its own internet infrastructure, they nervous that ICANN’s influence over AFRINIC’s leadership could end in external influence over the territory’s digital resources.
Also read: ICANN or ICan’t? CEO Lindqvist chooses dictatorship over democracy in AFRINIC
Cloud Innovation’s call for reform
The group advocates for the establishment of a new regional internet registry (RIR) with the goal to properly oversee Africa’s intellectual resources due to thinks the fact AFRINIC’s challenges are too firmly established to be addressed. In accordance with Cloud Innovation, the move is needed to ensure that the continent’s internet infrastructure stays to be durable and self-sustaining. Additionally, Cloud Innovation demands an NRO (Number Resource Organization) and ICANN choose a new RIR quickly.This would protect Africa from further governance issues and prevent external manipulation of its internet resources.
Also read: Courts vs. Cabinet: The Mauritius standoff that could redefine digital freedom
A crucial turning point for Africa’s digital future
A major turning point for Africa’s digital future will be the legal and governance concerns surrounding AFRINIC. For Cloud Innovation, the conflict is about conserving Africa’s internet resources, as well as about clashing with AFRINIC’s leadership. The findings of that dispute will likely establish a framework for foreseeable administration of Africa’s digital infrastructure. The final result of Cloud Innovation’s continuing lawsuit is going to impact internet governance in Africa and the global digital realm.
