The AFRINIC–ICANN nexus: Why the African internet still isn’t free

The AFRINIC–ICANN nexus: Why the African internet still isn’t free is profiled by BTW Media because public-source evidence links it to internet infrastructure, governance, operational dependencies, or market visibility.

• AFRINIC is a failed registry, with unworkable elections and governance irreparably broken, eroding trust in Africa’s internet governance.
• Cloud Innovation, the third-biggest AFRINIC member, is leading the charge to dissolve the failed registry and restore proper regional control.

AFRINIC’s governance crisis

AFRINIC, the regional internet registry responsible for Africa’s IP resources, has entered a prolonged governance crisis. Its internal processes have proven unworkable, leaving the registry unable to manage Africa’s critical IP resources effectively. These failures have created serious concerns about connectivity, digital infrastructure, and the integrity of regional internet governance.

Cloud Innovation Ltd., AFRINIC’s third-biggest member, has launched a formal call to dissolve the registry, describing this as a necessary reset to secure Africa’s IP ecosystem. The company is also demanding that ICANN and the NRO immediately appoint a new, competent regional internet registry to maintain continuity and proper management of resources.

Also read: AFRINIC election results face legitimacy challenge over governance breaches
Also read: AFRINIC election: Voter fraud uncovered as ECom member threatens to resign

ICANN overreach and regional autonomy

ICANN, the global body tasked with neutral oversight of internet naming and addressing, has over-extended its reach by attempting to influence AFRINIC’s leadership. CEO Lindqvist’s push for a global agenda and the adoption of the ICP-2 compliance document — bypassing multistakeholder processes — is seen as a quiet power grab, threatening bottom-up governance and further undermining trust. ICANN has since backtracked on derecognition threats, but its actions continue to highlight the precarious balance of control over Africa’s internet resources.

The AFRINIC–ICANN situation illustrates the fragility of Africa’s internet governance. A failed registry combined with external interference jeopardises the continent’s ability to manage IP resources, build digital infrastructure, and ensure equitable connectivity. Cloud Innovation’s actions highlight a growing demand for accountability and proper oversight, aiming to restore integrity and regional autonomy. The outcome of this crisis will set a precedent for how Africa manages its internet resources and protects bottom-up governance principles.