• AFRINIC’s governance breakdown has undermined trust in Africa’s internet resource management.
  • Cloud Innovation calls for AFRINIC’s dissolution to safeguard regional autonomy and stability.

Escalating conflict over failed governance

AFRINIC, Africa’s regional internet registry, remains without a functioning board or CEO after years of governance crisis. The June 23 board election was annulled over an unverified proxy dispute, resulting in the discarding of valid votes and reinforcing the perception that democratic elections within AFRINIC have become unworkable. These failures have deepened concerns over Africa’s internet resource management and exposed the registry’s inability to operate transparently or fairly.

In response, Cloud Innovation, AFRINIC’s third-biggest member, has formally called for the registry to be dissolved. The company argues that the governance system is irreparably broken and that the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) and the Number Resource Organisation (NRO) should immediately appoint a new regional internet registry to manage Africa’s IP resources. Critics warn that AFRINIC’s collapse could severely disrupt connectivity and digital infrastructure across the continent.

Also read: EXPOSED: The letter that reveals who was really benefitting from AFRINIC’s lawsuits
Also read: Did ICANN’s lawyer illegally visit AFRINIC when the Official Receiver was away?

A decisive test for Africa’s digital future

The AFRINIC crisis has evolved into a decisive test for Africa’s digital governance model. Its failure to uphold basic democratic processes has eroded trust among members and created a leadership vacuum at a time when internet infrastructure is critical to economic growth. AFRINIC’s annulment of a valid election over a minor proxy dispute not only sidelined legitimate stakeholders but also set a precedent that undermines the credibility of any future governance process.

Cloud Innovation’s push for AFRINIC’s dissolution reflects wider frustration with a system many see as incapable of reform. If ICANN and the NRO fail to intervene effectively, Africa risks losing control over its IP resources, potentially opening the door for external actors to exert influence over the continent’s internet future. This situation raises fundamental questions about who should manage Africa’s digital assets and whether current structures are fit for purpose. The longer the impasse continues, the greater the risk to Africa’s connectivity, investment climate, and ability to protect its internet sovereignty.