ICANN and AFRINIC: A partnership or a power play?

ICANN and AFRINIC is a Public briefing based on external evidence, entity context, and relationship signals.

ICANN has formally raised concerns over AFRINIC’s annulled 2025 board elections, citing proxy vote irregularities and transparency issues. Cloud Innovation Ltd. has filed a winding-up petition against AFRINIC, arguing the registry’s governance is irretrievably broken. Rising stakes for internet governance AFRINIC, responsible for allocating IP addresses and autonomous system numbers across 54 African nations and the Indian Ocean region, has faced a protracted governance crisis. ICANN formally raised concerns about the annulled June 2025 board election, citing reports of forged proxies and opaque voting procedures. At the same time, Cloud Innovation Ltd. sought AFRINIC’s liquidation, claiming governance is irreparably broken. The Mauritian government is also investigating AFRINIC’s operations. Meanwhile, ICANN is revising the ICP‑2 framework, which could strengthen oversight or even allow derecognition of a Regional Internet Registry. Also Read: Women and representation in AFRINIC elections: Closing the governance gap Partnership or power shift? ICANN positions its involvement as support for AFRINIC’s viability and the broader stability of the global RIR system. Critics, however, interpret the moves as a potential power grab, especially given ICANN’s ability to intervene directly if AFRINIC fails compliance. Regional autonomy is at stake, and the perception of external control could undermine trust in Africa’s internet governance. Also Read: From registry to battlefield: How AFRINIC’s board election became political What’s next for Africa’s internet? Attention now focuses on AFRINIC’s next board election and whether it can satisfy both regional stakeholders and ICANN. The outcome will test the legitimacy of the updated ICP‑2 framework and the broader balance between global oversight and African autonomy. For ISPs, governments, and users, any perception of compromised governance could affect trust, investment, and the stability of internet services across the continent.