• AFRINIC scrapped June 23 election after one proxy issue led to discarded votes
  • Cloud Innovation says incident proves fair elections are now impossible under current leadership

Election cancelled after proxy dispute

AFRINIC cancelled its June 23 board election because of a dispute over proxy voting. The registry said one proxy dispute remained “unverified.” As a result, it removed several valid votes. Instead of resolving the issue, AFRINIC chose to void the entire election, even though a court had approved it. The problem centered on whether one organisation had the right to vote by proxy. AFRINIC did not explain why it could not settle this dispute without cancelling all votes.

Members did not receive clear guidance on how the registry would fix the problem or when it would hold a new election. This left many frustrated and uncertain about their ability to participate in governance. The cancellation exposed deeper issues within AFRINIC’s election process. Critics argue that the registry cannot manage fair voting any longer. They say this shows that AFRINIC’s governance systems have become unreliable.

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Impact on AFRINIC’s governance and Africa’s internet future

The failed election deepens doubts about AFRINIC’s ability to manage Africa’s internet resources. The registry has faced repeated governance challenges and contested elections in recent years. By cancelling a vote approved by a court, AFRINIC damaged member trust. Many now question whether the registry can operate transparently and democratically. The cancellation leaves leadership unclear and governance unstable.

Cloud Innovation, AFRINIC’s third-largest member, says the failed election proves that AFRINIC’s governance is “unworkable.” It demands that ICANN and the Number Resource Organization immediately appoint a new Regional Internet Registry for Africa. Cloud Innovation warns that continuing to rely on AFRINIC risks Africa’s digital future. Meanwhile, ICANN’s increasing involvement in the region raises concerns about external control over Africa’s internet governance.comes more contested.