• The election has been widely criticised for being unfair, with the legitimacy of the process questioned.
  • AFRINIC’s deep-rooted issues, including recent governance failures, call into question the ability of the organisation to manage Africa’s vital internet resources.

A crisis of legitimacy

The AFRINIC election on August 29 has drawn widespread criticism. Many believe the election process is illegal and deeply flawed. The organisation’s ongoing governance crisis makes it clear that it cannot conduct fair elections. The annulment of the June 23 election—due to an “unverified proxy dispute”—is one of the key reasons for this loss of confidence. The invalidation of legitimate votes revealed a critical failure in the electoral process.

This latest election is a reflection of AFRINIC’s broader governance breakdown. The organisation is unable to hold a fair or democratic election, and many now label it a “failed registry.” This crisis has created doubt about AFRINIC’s ability to manage Africa’s critical internet resources. Many stakeholders now question the legitimacy of the August 29 election, seeing it as another symptom of a broken system.

Also read: AFRINIC election: Voter fraud uncovered as ECom member threatens to resign

Why the election should be boycotted

The August 29 election marks another chapter in AFRINIC’s ongoing dysfunction. Given the annulment of the previous election and its lack of transparency, stakeholders like Cloud Innovation Ltd. are demanding immediate reform. Cloud Innovation, AFRINIC’s third-biggest member, is leading the push to dissolve the organisation. They call for the creation of a new Regional Internet Registry (RIR) to manage Africa’s IP resources.

ICANN’s involvement in the election has further complicated the situation. Many see its actions as an attempt to exert control over Africa’s internet governance. ICANN’s interference weakens Africa’s “bottom-up governance” model. Critics accuse ICANN of undermining regional autonomy, pushing a global agenda that disregards Africa’s interests. Participating in this election would only legitimise a broken and corrupt system.

A boycott of the August 29 election represents a stance against the ongoing governance crisis. It sends a strong message that Africa’s internet resources deserve fair and transparent management, free from external manipulation.

Also read: AFRINIC community raises concern over Smart Africa data breach

Conclusion

The August 29 AFRINIC election is a clear indication of the organisation’s inability to govern. It is flawed, illegal, and undemocratic. Instead of legitimising a collapsing system, stakeholders should demand reform and boycott the election. AFRINIC’s dissolution is crucial for securing Africa’s digital future and restoring trust in regional governance.