African Internet Governance Gains Momentum as ICANN86 Reviews Regional Progress and FY27 Priorities.

At the ICANN86 meeting, stakeholders gathered for the dedicated Africa Space session to reflect on milestone achievements and map out the strategic roadmap for the continent’s Domain Name System (DNS) ecosystem. The session featured an in-depth review of FY26 progress under the Africa Regional Implementation Plan, previewed upcoming FY27 strategic priorities, and provided key updates on the ongoing efforts of the Coalition for Digital Africa.

Community participation across the continent is reaching new heights. Contributions during the session reflected a increasingly focused regional community, driven by impactful collaborative work within the Coalition. Among the key takeaways was the proven success of a hybrid engagement model—combining virtual accessibility with high-impact in-person sessions—which has significantly broadened participation. Notably, the session highlighted rising interest and direct involvement from both academic institutions and the commercial business sector, signaling a maturing local Internet economy.

Technical capacity building remains a cornerstone of the regional strategy. The Coalition and ICANN leadership reaffirmed their continued support for local DNS operators, focusing on critical security enhancements, infrastructure resilience, and the adoption of global best practices.

Looking ahead, a refreshed FY27 Regional Implementation Plan featuring an enhanced collaboration framework is set to be published soon, promising even stronger coordination across the ecosystem.

For those who were unable to attend the session live, the full recording and discussion details are available online: https://bit.ly/43tIlqE

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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