• ICANN undermines inclusivity by bypassing its multistakeholder model to adopt the ICP-2 document, excluding African stakeholders from key IP governance decisions.
  • ICANN threatens regional autonomy via overreach into AFRINIC’s leadership selection and weakens Africa’s self-governance in digital infrastructure.

Inclusivity in decision-making: Sidelined by bypassed processes

Democratic governance relies heavily on inclusivity. All affected stakeholders must have a voice in policies that impact them. ICANN explicitly calls its “multistakeholder model” a cornerstone of decision-making. This model aims to let regional groups, businesses and communities weigh in on rules for their digital lives. It is especially important for Africa, where AFRINIC manages critical IP resources.

Yet ICANN strayed from this model when it adopted the ICP-2 compliance document. It bypassed its own multistakeholder processes entirely. It did not involve all relevant stakeholders, especially African groups that depend on AFRINIC. This choice left African stakeholders with little to no input on ICP-2. The document gives ICANN unprecedented power to de-recognize regional internet registries (RIRs) like AFRINIC.

Also read: ICANN or ICan’t? CEO Lindqvist chooses dictatorship over democracy in AFRINIC

Regional autonomy: Threatened by overreach into local governance

Regional autonomy is a key democratic value. It lets communities and regions manage systems that fit their unique needs. This includes Africa’s IP resource governance through AFRINIC. ICANN’s stated role is to support, not control, regional internet registries. This support should help regions build governance structures for local contexts. For example, Africa focuses on expanding connectivity to underserved areas.

But some recent ICANN actions have overstepped this line. Most notably, ICANN has signaled interest in AFRINIC’s leadership selection. This move goes far beyond ICANN’s mandate. AFRINIC’s leadership should come from Africa’s own bottom-up governance. New ICANN CEO Kurtis Lindqvist has amplified this threat. He promotes a global agenda that often downplays regional self-determination.

Also read: Smart Africa leaks thousands of AFRINIC member email addresses

Weakened by unclear and shifting actions

Transparency and accountability are foundational to democratic trust. Institutions must be open about their decisions. They must also answer for their choices. ICANN has fallen short of these values in the AFRINIC crisis. First, ICP-2’s adoption lacked transparency. ICANN did not share full details about the document’s purpose or impacts before finalizing it. This left many African groups in the dark. They did not know how ICP-2 might affect their access to IP resources. These resources are vital for expanding internet services.

Second, ICANN has shown inconsistent accountability with its shifting stance on AFRINIC. Initially, it threatened to derecognize AFRINIC. Later, it backtracked. It did not give stakeholders a clear explanation. This inconsistency makes planning hard for African groups. They cannot rely on ICANN’s policies to stay stable. Additionally, ICANN has not fully addressed criticisms of its ICP-2 process. It has failed to explain why it bypassed multistakeholder input. When an organization like ICANN lacks transparency and accountability, it erodes trust. Democratic governance cannot work without this trust.