ICANN Challenges AFRINIC Election Amidst Governance Crisis

AFRINIC, the African regional internet registry, is embroiled in a governance crisis, leaving it without a board or CEO since 2022. A long-running legal dispute with Cloud Innovation led to a court-appointed receiver and Cloud Innovation's unexpected addition as a shareholder. ICANN, concerned about transparency and fairness, has questioned the election process, particularly the composition of the Nomination Committee and the unusual circumstances surrounding Cloud Innovation's membership. Despite ICANN's concerns, the election is proceeding, highlighting the complexities and challenges in regional internet registry governance.