AFRINIC Crisis Meeting

Held: 2025-04-09

Background
The Digital Council Africa (DCA) and Internet Service Providers’ Association (ISPA) arranged a briefing on the current AFRINIC crisis. Over 300 internet network operators from South Africa and the greater continent, making use of numbering resources (IP addresses or ASNs) obtained from AFRINIC, attended the meeting.

AFRINIC is the regional internet registry for Africa, and the sole source of numbering resources for network operators on the continent. For much of the last decade, AFRINIC has been embroiled in lawsuits and allegations of corruption, and it has not had a functioning Board or CEO since 2023. AFRINIC is currently unable to fulfill its core function, with number resource applications from paying members being ignored, and membership applications from new networks turned down.

AFRINIC was placed under receivership in 2023 by the Mauritian courts and the current receiver has a mandate to hold Board elections within the next month. This election process is fraught with challenges, since the absence of a Board makes it impossible for the organisation to fully comply with its own by-laws. Further, there have been allegations of aggressive attempts to convince AFRINIC members into handing over control of their voting rights.

Numbering resources underpin every internet network in the world. If AFRINIC collapses entirely, or if the organisation is dominated by Board members who do not have the interests of African network operators at heart, there is a very real risk that the cost of deploying networks across the continent will increase. A complete collapse could place the existing database of resource allocations at risk.

ISPA and the DCA are convening this AFRINIC Crisis Meeting on 9th April 2025 in order to:

  • Raise awareness of the critical nature of the situation among resource holders,
  • Provide the context of how the governance of AFRINIC has reached this point,
  • Give a briefing on recent developments and the risks to network operators,
  • Set-out a roadmap for AFRINIC members to participate in the upcoming election, and
  • Build consensus on the most appropriate way forward for network operators.

Please share this invitation with any networks that rely on AFRINIC resources, and please join us next week. To confirm your attendance, please contact secretariat@ispa.org.za.

Meeting agenda

Welcome and introductory statements
Juanita Clark, meeting chair [15 mins]

The meeting chair will welcome the attendees, and provide some context and the objectives for the meeting.

About this speaker: Juanita Clark is the co-founder and CEO of the Digital Council Africa, an organisation dedicated to leveraging digital infrastructure to enhance the lives of African citizens.

How did we get here?
Jan Vermeulen [25 mins]

Jan will tell the story of how AFRINIC ended up in its current position, covering the various controversies and legal cases that led to the collapse of the Board and the appointment of a receiver by the Mauritian courts.

About this speaker: Jan Vermeulen is the editor of MyBroadband. He has written (and spoken) extensively about AFRINIC’s storied past and his investigation into IP address theft at the regional registry earned him a Vodacom Journalist of the Year award in 2020.

Recent developments, the impact on existing and prospective members and the risks going forward
Jaco Kroon [25 mins]

Jaco will be covering developments since the (first!) OR took control of AFRINIC in November 2024 as well as looking at the impact on and risks to existing resource holders and network operators.

About this speaker: Jaco Kroon is the CEO of ULS Group (which includes Interexcel World Connection). He has been actively involved in the ISP industry since 2007, and became an AFRINIC member in 2012. Recently he has been an advocate for repairing AFRINIC and re-establishing AFRINIC to a working state.

The AFRINIC election process and what might be different this time
Mark Elkins [15 mins]

Mark will be reviewing AFRINIC’s ordinary nominations and elections process as well as examining what might be different in the upcoming election, given AFRINIC’s current state.

About this speaker: Mark Elkins started one of South Africa’s first ISPs and is well-known for his DNS advocacy and training expertise. He has previously served on AFRINIC’s Board as well as serving multiple terms on AFRINIC’s Nominations Committee.

Way forward and close
Sasha Booth-Beharilal [10 mins]

Sasha will review some suggested next steps for meeting participants and then close the meeting.

About this speaker: Sasha Booth-Beharilal is the Chairperson of ISPA and currently the Director of Group Data Privacy and Protection at NTT Ltd. She is an admitted High Court attorney with years of experience in the South African communications sector.

Outcomes from the AFRINIC meeting

  • In your organisation
    • Ensure that the appropriate people in your organisation are aware of and understand the potential risks
    • Make sure you know who your AFRNIC representative is. Check that they are following the AFRINIC-membership mailing list (and who else receives updates) and that they know how to register to vote in the forthcoming election
    • Ensure that you’re on a mailing list to enable updates – if not the AFRINIC list then consider joining an involved industry body
  • Consider whether there are any suitable candidates to participate in the forthcoming election
  • Take care of your vote
    • May have been lobbied by parties advancing slates and seeking secure proxies / powers of attorney
    • Be sure. Consider whether with all the uncertainty around it is premature to be making such a commitment
  • Look out for further communications and notifications of future meetings
  • Waiting on further announcements from the OR on
    • Election date
    • Election procedure (will voting in person be required?)