- The Number Resource Society (NRS) has endorsed eight candidates across Africa for the June 23 AFRINIC elections, aiming to reform the organization after years of mismanagement, promoting principles like IP ownership, no membership fees, and financial transparency.
- The candidates, representing various African regions and two region-independent seats, bring diverse experience in tech, governance, and digital transformation to help build a fairer, more accountable internet ecosystem for the continent.
The Number Resource Society (NRS), an organisation at the centre of the drive to improve Africa’s internet ecosystem after years of corruption and mismanagement, has put its voice behind eight candidates in the upcoming AFRINIC elections.
The elections will take place on June 23, with e-voting opening from June 16-23. More information about the election process can be found here: https://www.afrinic.net/election-process.
The elections come after years of operational turbulence, lawsuits and accusations of corruption and mismanagement at the Regional Internet Registry that looks after IP address allocations for the African continent.
BTW Media has covered the AFRINIC story in depth for some time.
Read more: ICANN’s role in AFRINIC elections faces scrutiny, claims of interference
Read more: Lu Heng, LARUS CEO, on AFRINIC elections: Clique control must end, decentralisation will ensure democracy
Read more: Cloud Innovation welcomes AFRINIC Receiver, urges continued allocation of IP addresses to ensure African business growth
In an email, the NRS laid out its criteria for the future of AFRINIC:
1. Legal IP Ownership – Your IPs secured with title deeds, permanently yours.
2. No Membership Fees – Fair and free access to internet resources.
3. Financial Stability & Transparency – A self-sustaining, corruption-free AFRINIC.
It said: “We’re at a pivotal moment, and your vote can reclaim AFRINIC for its members. These leaders share this vision—champions of fairness, accountability, and digital rights. This is more than an election—it’s a charter for change.”
Below are summaries of the candidate endorsed by the NRS. Full biographical and professional details can be found here.
The candidates
Seat One, Northern Africa: Hamza Bourougaa
Nationality: Tunisian
Country of residence: Tunisia
Hamza Bourougaa is a dynamic business development leader with six years of experience driving growth in emerging African markets. He specializes in ecosystem building, strategic partnerships, and scaling startups and SMEs. Fluent in Arabic, French, and English, Hamza leverages his multicultural background to bridge local talent with global opportunities. His roles at Sokadi, IE4Impact, Chari, Kamioun, and BOLT showcase his ability to foster innovation, optimize operations, and lead high-performing teams to create sustainable, impact-driven ventures across sectors and regions.
Seat Two, Western Africa: Terry Edet Okon
Nationality: Nigerian
Country of residence: Nigerian
Terry Edet is a tech-integrated business strategist with over a decade of experience spanning cybersecurity, real estate, and tech sales. He excels in designing secure digital infrastructures, automating workflows, and delivering ROI-driven solutions. Terry has led impactful roles at Boing Luxury Estates, Evamech Nigeria, and Nimble Stars, where he boosted efficiency and lead generation through tech innovation. With strong technical and project management skills, he blends cybersecurity, sales, and strategic insight to drive digital transformation and sustainable business growth.
Seat Three, Indian Ocean: Dewandranath Kissoondoyal
Nationality: Mauritian
Country of residence: Mauritius
Dewandranath “Dave” Kissoondoyal is a seasoned ICT and Internet governance leader with over 35 years of experience across Africa and globally. He holds an MBA in Information Systems and serves as a 2025 ICANN NomCom Member. Dave has held senior roles in cybersecurity and tech firms, including Harel Mallac and Hiperdist. A founder of the Internet Society of Mauritius, he has contributed to global Internet policy and governance. Multilingual and globally certified, Dave is committed to inclusive, transparent digital development.
Seat Four, Central Africa: Cedric Andre Yana
Nationality: Cameroonian
Country of residence: Cameroon
Cedric Andre Yana is a seasoned ICT and technology sales professional with strong expertise in digital transformation across Central Africa. He has led B2B strategies, driven market growth, and built strategic partnerships in roles at MTN Cameroon, Dahua Technology, and YOOMEE MOBILE. With a Master’s in Strategic Marketing and certifications from HubSpot, Cedric blends technical and commercial skills. Fluent in French and Business English, he is committed to fostering inclusive digital development and advancing internet governance and cybersecurity in the region.
Seat Five, Southern Africa: Paul Wollner
Nationality: South African
Country of residence: South Africa
Paul Wollner is a veteran technology leader with over 28 years of experience in ISP and cloud computing. As CEO of Africa on Cloud, he scaled the company into a profitable cloud provider, achieving 100% annual growth. Formerly CTO at SEACOM, he led innovations that drove 90% of revenue. With expertise in network engineering, product development, and business strategy, Paul has built resilient digital infrastructure and tech ventures from the ground up, positioning him as a key driver of digital transformation in Africa.
Seat Six, Eastern Africa: Ephraim Hensley Okalebo
Nationality: Ugandan
Country of residence: Uganda
Ephraim Hensley is a strategic business leader with over 10 years of experience in banking, fintech, and business development across Uganda. He has held key roles at Pahappa Technologies, TBN Africa, Kanzu Code, and DFCU Bank, driving growth through strategic planning, investor partnerships, and fintech innovation. Fluent in English, Luganda, and Swahili, Ephraim excels in relationship management, market intelligence, and cross-cultural leadership. His commitment to transformative impact and versatile background make him a valuable contributor to Africa’s evolving economic landscape.
Seat Seven, Region-Independent: Michiel Jacobus Bester
Nationality: South African
Country of residence: South Africa
Michiel Bester is an experienced network engineer and systems administrator with over a decade of expertise in IT infrastructure, Linux systems, and network security. He has led ISP network design and operations at Orea Technologies and currently consults across South Africa. With a background in both corporate and educational roles, Michiel excels in technical leadership, system scalability, and digital inclusion. Fluent in English and Afrikaans, he is committed to advancing Africa’s digital infrastructure through secure, innovative, and sustainable network solutions.
Seat Eight, Region-Independent: Petrus Phillipus Willemse
Nationality: South African
Country of residence: South Africa
Philip Willemse is a seasoned IT systems and network management expert with over 15 years of experience optimizing infrastructure for ISPs and enterprises across South Africa. Currently Systems Manager at iTeam, he specializes in network failover, WHMCS integration, and proactive monitoring. Formerly CTO at BeBroadband, he led digital inclusion projects and cost-saving innovations. With expertise in MikroTik, VMware, AWS, and AI-driven platforms, Philip blends technical acumen with strategic leadership to deliver scalable, secure, and inclusive tech solutions.
