Digital Dignity: My Manifesto for the African End-User.

Position Paper: ICANN ALAC Representative for Africa (2025–2027)

1. Introduction: The African Digital Frontier.

As the newly appointed At-Large Advisory Committee (ALAC) representative for Africa, I step into this role at a pivotal moment. Africa is no longer just a “growing market”; it is the frontier of the global internet. However, connectivity without dignity—the assurance of security, linguistic inclusion, and local agency—is an incomplete promise.

My mission for this two-year mandate is simple: to ensure that the 1.4 billion voices of Africa are not just “heard” in the halls of ICANN, but are central to the policies that govern the Domain Name System (DNS).

2. My Commitment: What I Can Do.

As your representative, my role is to act as the bridge between the African end-user and the ICANN Board. Over the next 24 months, I will:

• Elevate Policy Advice: I will champion African-specific perspectives on the New gTLD Subsequent Procedures (Next Round), ensuring that the expansion of domain names does not bypass African entrepreneurs and communities.
• Defend the Multistakeholder Model: Amidst shifting geopolitical pressures, I will work to keep the internet open, unified, and free from fragmented governance that could isolate African users.
• Bridge the Technical-Policy Gap: I will demystify ICANN’s technical work for our civil society members, translating complex DNS policy into its real-world impact on human rights and digital trade.

3. The 2-Year Strategic Roadmap.

To achieve “Digital Dignity,” we must work in concert with our regional and global partners.

A. Strengthening AFRALO (African Regional At-Large Organization)

AFRALO is the heart of our community. Within two years, we must:

• Mobilize At-Large Structures (ALSes): Move beyond passive membership. I will launch a “Policy Bootcamp” series to train our 40+ ALSes to draft impactful Public Comments.
• Linguistic Diversity: Advocate for better support of African languages within ICANN’s operations, ensuring that non-English speakers can participate in the multistakeholder process.

B. Leveraging the Coalition for Digital Africa (CDA).

The CDA is our vehicle for infrastructure and innovation. We must:

• Universal Acceptance (UA) Adoption: Work with the CDA to ensure that African scripts and email addresses (e.g., in Amharic or Arabic) are recognized globally. No African should be denied service because their email address “looks wrong” to a server.
• DNS Infrastructure: Support the expansion of L-Root server instances across the continent to improve internet speed and resilience for the everyday user.

C. Engaging Stakeholders (AFRINIC, AfTLD, and Governments)

• Stability of AFRINIC: We must support the stability and autonomy of the African Network Information Centre (AFRINIC) to ensure IP address management remains in the hands of the community.
• GAC-ALAC Synergy: I will collaborate with African members of the Governmental Advisory Committee (GAC) to ensure that national digital laws align with global internet standards, protecting users from arbitrary shutdowns or surveillance.

4. Key Priorities for 2025-2027.

5. Conclusion: A Call to Action

Digital Dignity is not a gift to be received; it is a right to be claimed. Over the next two years, I invite all African At-Large Structures, technical experts, and civil society advocates to join me. We will ensure that the internet of 2027 is more inclusive, more secure, and more “African” than it is today.

The future of the internet is being written now. Let’s make sure Africa is holding the pen.

• Dr. Adebunmi Adeola Akinbo (2025-2027), appointed by the NomCom as a Member of the At-Large Advisory Committee (ALAC).

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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