- AFRINIC’s board elections scheduled for June 2025, aiming to reestablish trust after years of governance challenges.
- New verification measures introduced to prevent vote manipulation and ensure member-driven leadership.
The African Network Information Centre (AFRINIC) has confirmed it will hold its long-delayed board elections in June 2025, a landmark development for Africa’s Regional Internet Registry as it seeks to recover from a turbulent period marked by governance breakdowns, court battles, and systemic abuse.
AFRINIC elections set for June 2025
In a communiqué issued on April 28, 2025, AFRINIC formally announced the electoral calendar, setting in motion a process that has been on pause since 2020 due to an escalating series of legal and administrative challenges. The elections are being held under the supervision of a court-appointed interim board, following a Mauritian Supreme Court ruling that required AFRINIC to resume its electoral process by mid-2025.
“This announcement signals a critical turning point,” AFRINIC stated. “The elections will be a foundational step toward restoring institutional integrity and rebuilding confidence among our members and global partners.”
The registry has introduced a robust set of verification and voter eligibility protocols to safeguard against the kinds of manipulation that have plagued previous election cycles. Under the new system, only officially registered corporate contacts — verified through notarized documentation, official email addresses, and government-issued IDs — will be allowed to vote. This is in direct response to abuse cases uncovered in 2021–2022, in which insiders were found to have taken control of dormant or inactive member accounts to cast multiple illegitimate votes.
“These are unprecedented safeguards to ensure transparency and member-driven leadership,” AFRINIC noted. The process also ensures that new members admitted after September 11, 2023 — the date of the court ruling — will not be eligible to vote, in order to prevent vote-stuffing or coordinated registrations intended to skew outcomes.
Number Resource Society (NRS) urges voters to take back control
Amid these reforms, advocacy group Number Resource Society (NRS) has emerged as a vocal player in the upcoming election. In a statement following the AFRINIC announcement, NRS called the June elections a rare opportunity to “reclaim control” of the registry and promised sweeping reforms if its candidates are elected.
“AFRINIC has been plagued by corruption, IP theft, and excessive fees — leaving members uncertain and at risk of losing their resources,” the group said. “If NRS candidates win, we will prioritize members’ rights, guarantee IP ownership, and build a financially stable, corruption-free AFRINIC.”
The NRS says it wants to make AFRINIC “the world’s leading RIR — driven by transparency, efficiency, and accountability.” It is expected to field candidates across multiple open board seats, and has previously campaigned on a platform of restoring trust and improving service to members.
African online businesses at stake
AFRINIC’s role as Africa’s sole regional internet registry gives it stewardship over the continent’s IP address allocations — a critical function for internet connectivity and digital growth. The organization’s credibility had been under siege due to a widely publicized corruption scandal involving the alleged theft of millions of IP addresses and subsequent court-ordered freezes on its operations.
With the upcoming elections and administrative reforms now underway, AFRINIC hopes to turn the page.
“Only through fair elections, transparency, and accountability can AFRINIC resume its mission to serve Africa’s internet community,” the interim board said.
Members are encouraged to review the election guidelines and confirm their credentials ahead of the vote.
The full communiqué and detailed election roadmap are available at AFRINIC’s website.
Also read: What is AFRINIC?
Timeline of AFRINIC’s governance crisis
- December 2019: Allegations surface that a founding employee misappropriated millions of IPv4 addresses, leading to internal turmoil and the resignation of external auditors.
- March 2018: Sexual harassment and bullying complaints are filed against senior AFRINIC officials, resulting in resignations and further reputational damage.
- June 2020: AFRINIC faces legal action from Afri Holdings Ltd and others over IP address disputes, highlighting governance and operational challenges.
- October 2021: Logic Web Inc initiates legal proceedings against AFRINIC concerning IP address allocations, adding to the organization’s legal woes.
- July 2021: A legal battle with Cloud Innovation Ltd leads to the freezing of AFRINIC’s bank accounts, severely impacting its operations.
- June 2022: An injunction is issued against AFRINIC’s board for attempting to extend a director’s term without an election, raising concerns about governance practices.
- July 2022: Suspended CEO Eddy Kayihura files a lawsuit against AFRINIC, further complicating the organization’s leadership crisis.
- March 2025: ICANN provides an update on the ongoing legal proceedings involving AFRINIC, indicating continued international attention on the organization’s governance.
