A Critical Juncture for AFRINIC: Restoring Trust and Credibility Through Transparent Elections.

Following the annulment of its June 2025 elections due to suspected irregularities involving Powers of Attorney, the African Network Information Centre (AFRINIC) is at a critical crossroads.

With ongoing police investigations and a court-mandated extension of the Receiver’s mandate, the organization is now preparing for a new round of elections, scheduled to be held by September 30, 2025. These elections are not just a procedural necessity; they represent a vital opportunity to restore the trust and credibility of the institution, both within the African Internet community and globally.

The path forward is clear: a commitment to fairness, transparency, and broad community participation. In a significant shift from previous processes, AFRINIC has announced that Powers of Attorney and proxies will no longer be accepted. This measure is a direct response to the manipulation concerns that led to the annulment and is designed to ensure that each vote represents a genuine, independent decision by an eligible member. Furthermore, the voting process will be conducted entirely online, a move intended to enhance accessibility and provide a level playing field for all participants, regardless of their location.

A cornerstone of this new, more robust process is the formation of a Nominations Committee (NomCom). AFRINIC has issued an urgent call for nominations to form this crucial body. The NomCom will be tasked with the essential duties of: ✓ Cultivating a diverse and qualified pool of candidates from across the African Internet community.✓ Overseeing the entire election process, from vetting to final candidate selection.✓ Ensuring the integrity and fairness of the voting procedures.

The deadline for nominations is exceptionally tight, with submissions due by July 17, 2025, to the email address nomcomselection@afrinic.net. To guarantee neutrality and prevent regional bias, the NomCom will be composed of a single representative from each of AFRINIC’s regions.

Recommendations for the African Internet Community: A Call to Action for AfRALO.

The integrity of these upcoming elections is a shared responsibility. The African Regional At-Large Organization (AfRALO), as the voice of individual Internet users in Africa within the ICANN ecosystem, has a particularly crucial role to play. AfRALO’s unique position allows it to act as a key advocate and facilitator in ensuring the success of this new electoral process. Here are specific recommendations for how AfRALO and its members can contribute to a successful and credible outcome:

1. Promote and Facilitate Nominations for the NomCom: The window for NomCom nominations is narrow. AfRALO must act immediately. It should issue a strong, urgent call to its members and the broader community to nominate individuals who possess the integrity, expertise, and neutrality required for this critical task. AfRALO can assist by identifying and encouraging diverse candidates from its network, providing clear guidance on the nomination process, and emphasizing the central importance of a strong NomCom in restoring trust.

2. Advocate for Transparency and Fairness in the Election Process: As a major community stakeholder, AfRALO should closely monitor the entire election process. This includes observing the NomCom’s work and the online voting procedures. If any irregularities arise, AfRALO should leverage its platform to promptly raise concerns with AFRINIC and other relevant stakeholders, such as ICANN, advocating for immediate and transparent resolution. By promoting open communication, AfRALO can help ensure that the community is kept informed every step of the way.

3. Educate and Mobilize the Voting Community: A transparent process is only as effective as the participation it generates. AfRALO should launch targeted voter education campaigns to inform eligible AFRINIC members about the new rules (no Powers of Attorney, online-only voting) and the importance of casting their vote. Once the NomCom finalizes the candidate list, AfRALO can help disseminate candidate profiles, empowering voters to make informed decisions. It should actively counter any misinformation and encourage high voter turnout to ensure a representative outcome.

4. Contribute to Building Trust and Restoring Credibility: Beyond the immediate electoral process, AfRALO can contribute to the long-term health of AFRINIC by issuing public statements of support for a fair and transparent election. By continually emphasizing the importance of multistakeholder principles and open governance, AfRALO can help rebuild the foundation of trust that has been shaken by recent events. After the elections, AfRALO should participate in discussions on lessons learned to help strengthen AFRINIC’s governance framework for the future.

The upcoming elections are a defining moment for AFRINIC. By embracing a new, transparent process and with the proactive engagement of key community organizations like AfRALO, the African Internet community can ensure a credible and legitimate outcome. This collective effort is essential for AFRINIC’s recovery and for securing the future of Internet governance in Africa.

About Author

Dr. Adebunmi Adeola Akinbo

Dr. Adebunmi Akinbo is a Researcher, Media Psychologist, Brand and Content Expert. He is an Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) Fellow, Member of Association of Cyber Forensics and Threat Investigators (ACFTI), Associate Member of the Computer Professional Registration Council of Nigeria (CPN), and a Senior Member of Chartered Institute of Public Diplomacy & Management (CIPDM), He is passionate for information and solutions for ICT Challenges by the media for the global village.

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