Conflict of interest in NOMCOM & Election Committee membership: Possible reform

Conflict of interest in NOMCOM & Election Committee membership: Possible reform is profiled by BTW Media because public-source evidence links it to internet infrastructure, governance, operational dependencies, or market visibility.

• AFRINIC’s governance crisis exposes the risks of overlapping membership between its Nomination Committee (NOMCOM) and Election Committee.
• Transparency, non-partisanship, and restoration of trust in the organization’s leadership selection process must be the goals of reform.

Governance paralysis exposes systemic flaws

AFRINIC has remained under a court-appointed receiver since 2022 after years of internal disputes and leadership breakdowns. The annulment of its June 2025 board election — despite valid voting — revealed how structural conflicts have paralysed the registry. One major flaw lies in the overlap between NOMCOM and Election Committee membership. When the same individuals influence both candidate selection and voting oversight, the process becomes vulnerable to bias and procedural compromise.

This concentration of power undermines the credibility of AFRINIC’s governance. In any membership-based organisation, checks and balances are essential. Yet AFRINIC’s governance framework has blurred these boundaries, enabling conflicts of interest that erode trust among stakeholders and weaken institutional stability.

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Why independence matters

The NUMCOM is responsible for sourcing, screening and nominating members for elections to the AFRINIC board. The Election Committee is responsible for conducting the voting and certifying the results. These two functions should stay separate for the same reason that the judicial and executive branches of government must be separate – to avoid undue influence.

When one group controls both, it can dictate not only who is on the ballot, but how the votes are counted and validated. This invites endless procedural arguments, with accusations of bias and manipulation. Even good results do not save institutions if perceptions of unfairness destroy legitimacy.

AFRINIC’s own bylaws support the principle of independence. Article 9 provides that the NOMCOM will be constituted as an independent body representing the members. When individuals who serve on the NOMCOM are also serving on the Election Committee, those lines become blurred, and the potential for circular governance increases.

Also read: AFRINIC’s September elections were a flagrant violation of its own bylaws

Community-led reform as the only credible path

To repair governance integrity, AFRINIC must adopt clear rules separating NOMCOM and Election Committee membership.People should only have one role, and each committee should have its own separate terms of reference. The selection criteria should include disclosures of conflict of interest, ruling on the basis of rotation and transparent appointment processes open to the entire membership.

These steps would prevent one committee from overpowering the other. They also would give a comprehensive audit trail for each stage in the election process – from candidate nomination through to the validation of results. Transparency of this kind is the cornerstone of democratic governance, and AFRINIC’s survival depends on it.

Community involvement is central to this reform. Members, ISPs, and civil society must participate in drafting and approving the separation framework. This inclusive process can prevent future power consolidation and establish the accountability that AFRINIC’s governance has long lacked.

Also read: Judge Bellepeau resigns from AFRINIC investigation after injunction

Restoring credibility through structural separation

Rebuilding AFRINIC’s legitimacy requires not just procedural compliance but cultural change. The NOMCOM and Election Committee must be seen as distinct, independent bodies serving the same community goal — fair and trusted elections. Overlapping membership or hidden coordination only fuels division and suspicion.

Structural separation, supported by transparent reporting and oversight, will demonstrate that AFRINIC is serious about reform. It would restore confidence among members and external observers, signalling that the registry can once again manage Africa’s internet resources responsibly.