• AFRINIC annulled its June 23, 2025 board election after a disputed proxy vote sparked concerns over staff interference and bulk vote invalidation.
  • ICANN has formally warned that without transparent IP‑allocation and electoral reforms, AFRINIC risks losing its mandate and delaying resource distribution to African networks.

Problem: Election crisis and proxy-vote handling

On June 23, 2025, AFRINIC held its first in-person board election since being placed under court receivership in 2022. Just before the polls closed in Mauritius, the election was halted. The Nomination Committee cited concerns over a single disputed proxy vote: staff contacted the alleged voter, who denied authorizing it. Based on this one incident, the committee invalidated over 800 proxy ballots and annulled the election. No fraud was confirmed, only that the vote could not be verified by the close of polls.

This decision provoked backlash across the AFRINIC community. Many members argued that the invalidation was procedurally unjust and disproportionately affected small operators in remote or under-connected regions, for whom proxy voting is a necessity. Critics also questioned the lack of transparency—there was no independent audit, no appeal process, and no proportionality. Staff intervention during the voting process further raised alarm, as it potentially violated voter confidentiality.

AFRINIC’s governance structure came under renewed scrutiny. The NomCom, responsible for ensuring electoral integrity, is itself appointed by the board and lacks clear independence. Its unilateral decision to suspend the vote—without a public hearing or multi-stakeholder consultation—deepened mistrust and left the community in limbo.

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Solution: Demand for transparent IP allocation and governance reform

On June 6, 2025—two weeks before the vote—ICANN issued a public letter urging AFRINIC’s court-appointed receiver to enforce fair election procedures. The letter emphasized the need to publish voter rolls, ensure checks on committee authority, and create mechanisms to resolve disputes without disenfranchising members. The situation escalated when AFRINIC failed to act on these recommendations, and ultimately canceled the vote after the proxy issue.

This is not just about elections. The absence of a legitimate board since 2022 has severely delayed IP address and ASN allocations across Africa. Internet service providers in multiple regions have reported project freezes and bandwidth rationing due to pending resource requests. A transparent and accountable IP allocation system is now seen as essential—not just for equity, but for operational continuity.

Reform proposals from the community include publishing all IP block applications and approvals, maintaining a real-time audit trail of allocations, and instituting clear rules for resource reclamation and transfers. In parallel, members are calling for an overhaul of AFRINIC’s electoral framework: from setting transparent voting procedures to defining criteria for valid proxies and appeal rights.

Failure to act could trigger wider consequences. ICANN and the global RIR system depend on AFRINIC maintaining legitimacy. Without it, Africa’s only regional registry risks losing its mandate—and with it, the ability to support internet growth across the continent.