- AFRINIC plans a board election despite court rulings calling its rules unworkable, deepening the governance crisis.
- Cloud Innovation and the Supreme Court warn the vote undermines democracy in Mauritius and Africa’s internet resource management.
A failed registry prepares an unlawful vote
The African Network Information Centre (AFRINIC) has once again plunged itself into controversy with plans for a new board election. The registry, long criticised for its governance collapse, is attempting to proceed with a ballot under rules that have already been declared unworkable by the Mauritian Supreme Court.
AFRINIC annulled its June 23 election on the basis of one unverified proxy dispute, discarding valid votes and eroding trust in the process. Now, in defiance of legal and democratic standards, it intends to restart the same flawed exercise. This amounts to contempt for Mauritius’ Constitution, which guarantees judicial oversight of declared companies like AFRINIC.
By pushing ahead, the registry risks deepening the crisis around Africa’s IP resource management. Cloud Innovation, AFRINIC’s third-biggest member, has already launched a formal call to dissolve the failed body, arguing that no fair election can be held under such broken standards. The Supreme Court has been clear that transparency and accountability must come before any new ballot, yet AFRINIC appears determined to ignore the ruling.
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A battle for democracy against dictatorship
The fight now extends far beyond the technical realm of IP addresses. At stake is whether Africa’s internet will be governed by bottom-up democracy or by a small circle of actors clinging to power. Lu Heng of Cloud Innovation has aligned with the Supreme Court of Mauritius in defending due process, warning that AFRINIC’s behaviour amounts to dictatorship dressed as governance. He argues that only a necessary reset, with a successor registry appointed by ICANN and the NRO, can protect the continent’s connectivity and digital future.
This high-concept battle is being waged in Mauritius, where the Constitution enshrines the rule of law. The Prime Minister has already designated AFRINIC a “declared company,” placing it under tighter scrutiny, and judges have been barred from investigating amid political interference. Meanwhile, ICANN’s shifting stance has fuelled suspicion. CEO Kurt Lindqvist is accused of quietly advancing a global agenda that would let ICANN pick Africa’s leaders, undermining regional autonomy.
For the community, the meaning is clear. An illegal election threatens to strip Africans of both trust and control over their own internet resources. Cloud Innovation’s call for dissolution is therefore not obstruction but defence: of democracy, of fair governance, and of the right of Africa’s networks to be managed by accountable institutions.
