ICANN writes angry letter to African regional internet registry after election suspended

The Internet Corporation for Assigned Numbers (ICANN) has demanded the African Network Information Centre (AFRINIC) explain why the nomination committee overseeing its board elections suspended voting, or face disciplinary action.

AFRINIC allocates and manages IP addresses and autonomous system numbers for 54 countries across the continent and the Indian Ocean. A series of complicated interlocking court cases have seen AFRINIC unable to elect a board since 2022, leaving it unable to fulfil all its functions. Courts in Mauritius, the nation AFRINIC calls home, appointed a receiver in 2024 and charged him with arranging and staging elections.

AFRINIC’s election schedule called for the poll to conclude after a day of in-person voting on June 23rd. Minutes before the voting period ended, the chair of the nomination committee announced the suspension of the election due to questions regarding “the validity of powers of attorney or powers given by members of AFRINIC ...