Africa’s internet governance landscape is once again under scrutiny following the unexpected relaunch of the 2025 board election by the continent’s Regional Internet Registry (RIR), the African Network Information Centre (AFRINIC). The new process, introduced without endorsement from a duly elected board, has sparked widespread concern among stakeholders and policy observers.
At the center of the issue is the establishment of the Nominations Committee (NomCom), a key body responsible for overseeing the election. According to the organization’s own bylaws, such a committee can only be appointed by a fully elected board. However, the current setup appears to have bypassed that requirement, raising questions about procedural legitimacy.
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While the updated election guidelines have been made publicly available, governance experts and members of the technical community have pointed out that these measures conflict with the registry’s foundational rules. Some warn that the election could be challenged or invalidated altogether due to potential legal inconsistencies.
This latest development comes amid an already turbulent period. Prolonged internal disputes, legal confrontations, and concerns about transparency have eroded confidence in the institution’s leadership. The decision to proceed with a potentially non-compliant election process risks deepening that mistrust.
Observers worry that if governance decisions continue to be made outside established legal frameworks, the registry’s ability to fairly manage critical internet number resources across Africa may be called into question. Some are urging external oversight or independent audits to restore credibility and ensure the organization remains accountable to its community.
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The situation also mirrors wider trends in the global internet ecosystem, where community-driven governance is increasingly under strain. The growing centralization of authority and diminishing stakeholder influence have prompted renewed calls to uphold transparency, participatory decision making, and legal integrity in all aspects of internet resource management.
If left unaddressed, the current trajectory could jeopardize AFRINIC’s long-standing role as a steward of Africa’s internet infrastructure, a role that depends heavily on legitimacy, trust, and community consensus.
