ISPA Makes Recommendations for AFRINIC Board Elections

23 June 2025

ISPA, South Africa’s official internet Industry Representative Body (IRB), is urging members of AFRINIC (The African Network Information Centre) to vote for specific candidates in this month’s elections for the Board of Africa’s Regional Internet Registry (RIR).

Voting for AFRINIC’s Board opened on Wednesday, 18 June. While ISPA has historically steered clear of making specific AFRINIC voting recommendations, the unusual nature of the current elections means ISPA has decided to recommend that resource holders vote for a specific slate of candidates.

After AFRINIC had been without a functioning Board for three years, the court-appointed Receiver for AFRINIC announced that an election to reconstitute the organisation’s Board of Directors will take place on 23 June 2025 in Mauritius. Online voting is running until 23 June 2025.

For the current voting process to truly emerge as a positive development for the long-term success of one of the world’s five RIRs, the right people need to make up AFRINIC’s Board.

After consultation with other stakeholders, colleagues and industry associations, ISPA’s Board strongly encourages all AFRINIC resource members to vote for the following list of candidates:

• Seat one: North Africa Candidate: Abdelaziz Hilali
• Seat two: West Africa Candidate: Emmanuel Adewale Adedokun
• Seat three: Indian Ocean Candidate: Kaleem Usmani
• Seat four: Central Africa Candidate: Laurent Ntumba
• Seat five: Southern Africa Candidate: Carla Sanderson
• Seat six: Eastern Africa Candidate: Fiona Asonga
• Seat seven/eight: Region Independent Candidates: Adewole David Ajao and Ben Roberts

ISPA believes that voting for this slate of candidates will assure the highest chance of success in the AFRINIC elections.

ISPA notes that there are other nominees who are also well-qualified to serve on AFRINIC’s Board. ISPA’s failure to recommend those nominees should not be viewed as criticism of their candidacy.

ISPA remains committed to supporting its members in maintaining the security and integrity of their network resources.

Visit the AFRINIC website [afrinic.net/election-process] for more information.

Alternatively, should you require additional clarification, please contact secretariat@ispa.org.za.