AFRINIC election annulled after ICANN writes angry letter to African regional internet registry

The group in charge of IP addresses for 54 countries hasn't had a board since 2022

Updated 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 to delegates who are given on the face of it voting powers.” The committee later posted a communique confirming suspension of the election “to permit further investigation.”

“We appreciate this will be a matter of concern to the AFRINIC Membership and would ask that all members refrain from speculation to allow proper time for the necessary enquiries to be carried out and the election process carried through to a successful conclusion,” the communique states.

After the suspension, the Internet Service Providers' Association (ISPA) of South Africa issued a statement in which it claims authorized representatives of AFRINIC members who attended the in-person voting session found “another person had already submitted a vote on their behalf thanks to a Power of Attorney, which that resource holder had not provided to any third party.”

ISPA further alleged that another representative of an AFRINIC member tried to vote and that election officials told them a Power of Attorney had already been lodged on their behalf. AFRINIC election officials could not produce that document.

An ISPA spokesperson told The Register its allegations are based on the observations of a legal representative for one of the candidates in the AFRINIC election who “was present throughout the course of voting on Monday.”

AFStar, a coalition of African Organisations for Internet Governance, also alleged two Powers of Attorney used to vote on behalf of AFRINIC members “were proven to be fraudulent.”

Mauritian news outlet L'Express reports that local police and government agencies are considering whether criminal conduct occurred.

ICANN, which oversees AFRINIC and the four other regional internet registries that manage IP addresses and autonomous systems numbers, has also expressed concern about the in-person voting.

In a letter [PDF] to the receiver of AFRINIC, ICANN notes allegations of fraudulently obtained Powers of Attorney. The letter also points out that AFRINIC’s election rules for online voting allow one member to hold proxies for five others, but rules governing the in-person voting day allowed one person to vote for any number of members if they held a Power of Attorney to do so for each.

ICANN’s letter includes 13 questions it wants the receiver to address within 24 hours and also expresses concern that AFRINIC’s operations remain “independent of influences that seek to move AFRINIC’s policy to positions that are counter to the global coordination of the numbering system.” The letter warns that if ICANN does not receive adequate responses from the receiver, it may initiate a compliance review of AFRINIC.

If AFRINIC fails that review, ICANN could ask another RIR to step in and serve as an emergency registry for Africa.

The Register has sought comment from the Nomination Committee Chair, the receiver, and AFRINIC. None have responded at the time of writing. ®

UPDATED AT 07:15 UTC JUNE 26

AFRINIC's receiver has annulled the election.

In a communique posted on Thursday morning, receiver Vikash G Dabee wrote that he has received "feedback and expressions of concern from several stakeholders regarding potential irregularities related to voter documentation."

"Our shared priority is clear: upholding the core principles of transparency, fairness, and the best interests of AfriNIC and its entire membership," he added.

"To safeguard these principles and ensure the unquestionable legitimacy of our organisation, I have made the necessary decision to forthwith annul the current election process."

Dabee intends to petition the Supreme Court of Mauritius "for a limited extension of the current mandate solely to allow for the proper organization and execution of new, fully verified elections taking on board all stakeholders within a reasonable timeframe."

All of which leaves AFRINIC in the same limbo the election was designed to relieve.