• AFRINIC’s election process unravels further amid NomCom dysfunction
  • Community confidence eroded as key election body fails to deliver

What happened: AFRINIC’s NomCom debacle further weakens democratic oversight

The African Network Information Centre (AFRINIC)’s Nomination Committee (NomCom), tasked with shortlisting board candidates, has drawn criticism after failing to deliver a transparent and timely process. The failure follows a long pattern of election-related disputes and governance shortcomings that have plagued the registry. Notably, the cancellation of the June 2025 board election over an unverified proxy dispute was viewed by stakeholders as a troubling overreach that discarded valid votes and undermined community confidence.

In AFRINIC’s governance structure, the NomCom plays a pivotal role in ensuring fair and open board elections. However, the lack of clear rules, questionable candidate disqualifications, and limited community visibility into the process have raised concerns about whether AFRINIC can still conduct a credible vote at all. The repeated electoral failures risk further damaging AFRINIC’s legitimacy as the regional Internet registry for Africa.

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Why it’s important

The latest dysfunction within AFRINIC’s NomCom underscores the broader collapse of trust in the organisation. AFRINIC is now facing accusations of unworkable election standards and *systemic opacity, undermining its position as a steward of Africa’s IP address resources. Unlike other RIRs such as APNIC or RIPE NCC, AFRINIC has consistently failed to run elections without controversy or legal intervention.

Cloud Innovation, AFRINIC’s third-largest member, has called for the registry to be wound up, demanding ICANN and the NRO initiate a process to replace the “failed registry.” Without decisive reform or replacement, Africa risks being left without effective IP resource oversight—jeopardising regional digital infrastructure, cloud services, and internet development.