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In Memoriam: Alan Barrett
by Andrew Alston 28 May '26

28 May '26

Dear friends and colleagues, As some of you will already be aware, it is with immense sadness that we confirm, on behalf of his wife Kerry and the family, the passing of Alan Barrett. Alan died on May 28th in Cape Town, South Africa, following a diagnosis of late-stage cancer about a month ago. We are sharing this notice so that the community has accurate information at a moment when Kerry and the family need space to grieve. Alan was a friend, a willing listener, and someone who always stepped up to help when called upon. His contributions to the African Internet ecosystem were second to none, and with his passing we lose not only a friend but a giant of the industry. In 1990, Alan helped establish the very first Internet connection to South African universities, and in 1993 he co-founded the country's first commercial Internet Service Provider. In 1997 he co-authored the proposal to create AfriNIC and subsequently served on the steering committee tasked with bringing it into being. Alan served on the AfriNIC board from 2004 to 2009 and was a member of the NRO NC from 2004 to 2014. In 2015 he was appointed CEO of AfriNIC, a role he held until 2019. Beyond Africa, he was a central participant in the IANA Stewardship Transition Coordination Group, and until his death served on the ICANN board on behalf of the Address Supporting Organisation. Alan will be sorely missed by the community, his relatives and his wife, Kerry. Kerry and the family ask for privacy at this time. We will be organising an online memorial in due course and will share details once they are available. Andrew Alston Remco van Mook

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ZANOG Workshops
by Shawn Jooste 25 May '26

25 May '26

Do you know where traffic on your network is coming from and going to? Better network observability can help improve peering and interconnection decisions, reduce costs, and improve performance. Join us for a hands-on workshop on deploying free observability tools. Date: 28 May 2026 Time: 14h00 – 17h00 Topics include: • Introduction to sFlow and NetFlow • Deploying AS-Stats • Deploying Akvorado • Configuring routers to export flows • Open troubleshooting and discussion RSVP: https://events.nog.net.za/event/87/ Join us later the same day for the next regional Network Operator Group meeting – ZANOG-WC. Date: 28 May 2026 Time: 18h00 Venue: Workshop17, Gardens, Cape Town Talks: • Containers on MikroTik – David Savage • AI show-and-tell and what I have learned – Hendrik Visage RSVP: https://events.nog.net.za/event/79/ These events remain free thanks to our sponsor, FLEXOPTIX.

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Reminder: Call for Candidates for AFRINIC 2026 Elections
by AFRINIC Communication 20 May '26

20 May '26

[Version en français au bas] Dear Colleagues, AFRINIC is at an important turning point. As we continue rebuilding our African Internet Registry, we need committed, credible, and service-minded people who are ready to contribute to the future of this esteemed institution and to the development of the Internet across our continent. The Nomination Committee 2026 is calling for nominations for the following positions: • Three (3) seats on the Governance Committee • Two (2) seats for the NRO NC / ASO AC community representatives • Two (2) PDP Co-Chair positions These roles are not symbolic. They are designed for people who believe in accountability, transparency, bottom-up governance, responsible management of Internet number resources, and the long-term stability of Africa’s Internet ecosystem. If you have the experience, commitment, integrity, and willingness to serve the African Internet community, this is the right moment to step forward. We also strongly encourage nominations from all African sub-regions, including women, young professionals, experienced technical experts, policy contributors, and members of our English, French, Arabic, and Portuguese-speaking communities. You may nominate yourself or nominate a qualified candidate. Nomination forms: • Governance Committee: https://forms.afrinic.net/governance-committee-election-2026 • NRO NC / ASO AC: https://forms.afrinic.net/nro-nc-aso-ac-election-2026 • PDP Co-Chairs: https://forms.afrinic.net/pdp-co-chairs-selection-2026 Each candidature must be supported by two AFRINIC Resource Members in good standing. The deadline for nominations is 29 May 2026 at 23:59 UTC. Let us build the future of AFRINIC together, with competence, responsibility, and commitment to Africa. Yours sincerely, Ganesh Ramalingum NomCom Chair ______________________________________________________________________ Chers membres de la communauté, AFRINIC est à un tournant important de son histoire. Alors que nous poursuivons la reconstruction de notre registre Internet africain, nous avons besoin de personnes engagées, crédibles et animées par le sens du service, prêtes à contribuer à l'avenir de cette prestigieuse institution et au développement d'Internet sur l'ensemble de notre continent. Le Comité de nomination 2026 lance un appel à candidatures pour les postes suivants: • Trois (3) sièges au sein du Comité de gouvernance • Deux (2) sièges de représentants de la communauté pour le NRO NC / ASO AC • Deux (2) postes de coprésidents du PDP (Processus de développement des politiques) Ces rôles ne sont pas symboliques. Ils sont conçus pour des personnes qui croient en la responsabilité, la transparence, la gouvernance ascendante, la gestion responsable des ressources de numérotation Internet et la stabilité à long terme de l'écosystème Internet africain. Si vous possédez l'expérience, l'engagement, l'intégrité et la volonté de servir la communauté Internet africaine, c'est le moment idéal pour vous présenter. Nous encourageons les candidatures issues de toutes les sous-régions africaines, y compris les femmes, les jeunes professionnels, les experts techniques chevronnés, les contributeurs aux politiques, ainsi que les membres de nos communautés anglophones, francophones, arabophones et lusophones. Vous pouvez proposer votre propre candidature ou parrainer un candidat qualifié à travers les Formulaires de candidature : • Comité de gouvernance : https://forms.afrinic.net/governance-committee-election-2026 • NRO NC / ASO AC : https://forms.afrinic.net/nro-nc-aso-ac-election-2026 • Coprésidents du PDP : https://forms.afrinic.net/pdp-co-chairs-selection-2026 Chaque candidature doit être endossée par deux membres-ressources d’AFRINIC en règle. La date limite de dépôt des candidatures est fixée au 29 mai 2026 à 23h59 UTC. Construisons ensemble l'avenir d'AFRINIC, avec le sens de compétence, de responsabilité et d'engagement envers l’Afrique. Cordialement, Ganesh Ramalingum NomCom Chair

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AFRINIC Communiqué: 15 May 2026
by AFRINIC Communication 15 May '26

15 May '26

Dear Colleagues, The African Network Information Centre (AfriNIC) Ltd, also known as AFRINIC, wishes to inform its members, resource holders, stakeholders, and the broader Internet community that the Supreme Court of Mauritius has, on 14 May 2026, issued an Interim Order <https://afrinic.net/ast/pdf/Rule_Afrinic-150526_Redacted.pdf> (https://afrinic.net/ast/pdf/Rule_Afrinic-150526_Redacted.pdf) against Cloud Innovation Ltd following the publication of false and misleading statements disseminated through its subsidiary, Larus Ltd. In particular, the publication had incorrectly represented that the Supreme Court of Mauritius had sanctioned or otherwise authorised the leasing of AFRINIC-allocated Internet number resources, including IP address resources. AFRINIC wishes to reiterate, further to its communiqué dated 09 May 2026 <https://afrinic.net/afrinic-communique-09052026> (https://afrinic.net/afrinic-communique-09052026) and in the clearest possible terms, that the said publication does not accurately reflect the position of the Supreme Court of Mauritius and is misleading in nature. The aforementioned Interim Order <https://afrinic.net/ast/pdf/case_73_555-2025-140526_Redacted.pdf> (https://afrinic.net/ast/pdf/case_73_555-2025-140526_Redacted.pdf) issued by the Supreme Court of Mauritius expressly addresses the matter and confirms the legal position in relation thereto. AFRINIC further reiterates that Internet number resources allocated by AFRINIC are governed by the applicable registration policies, contractual framework, and the established principles underpinning the Regional Internet Registry (RIR) system. Any representation suggesting judicial sanctioning of arrangements outside such framework is categorically denied unless expressly determined by a competent court. Additionally, AFRINIC considers it both opportune and appropriate to inform its members and the broader Internet community that, in relation to the winding-up petition initiated by Cloud Innovation Ltd against AFRINIC in July 2025 under matter reference SC/COM/PET/000508/2025, the Supreme Court of Mauritius has, on 14 May 2026,also granted an Order formally allowing ICANN to intervene as a party in the proceedings. Details providing an overview of the series of proceedings initiated by Cloud Innovation Ltd against AFRINIC since 2021, which AFRINIC considers to be frivolous and vexatious, are available at: https://afrinic.net/court-cases. AFRINIC remains committed to ensuring transparency, accuracy of information, and the protection of the integrity of the Internet number resource administration system for the African and Indian Ocean region. Issued by: AFRINIC 15 May 2026

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Re: zanog-discuss Digest, Vol 30, Issue 8
by Paul Hjul 15 May '26

15 May '26

Um .... some disclaimers: this is not the official position of any organization with which I am affiliated or have done any work for, while I have conferred with Mauritius specialists on the issues at hand this is off the cuff discussion centred. I have not applied a diplomacy overlay or sarcasm filter. Act here is the Companies Act 2001 as amended. A copy of the Act as provided by the CRBD (the administrative agency of the Registrar of Companies) is attached. I don't think the majority of people who are involved in or are observing Afrinic have taken cognizance of s269A of the Act. ISPA’s legal team identified the fact that AFRINIC Resource Members are not > Registered Members of AFRINIC under Mauritian law as a key concern. Yes the construct of "registered members" and the following of ARIN style bylaws rather than alignment with the Mauritian Companies Act is the main cause of Afrinic's problems. But ... effectively means that many of the rights provided to Resource Members > under the Bylaws can be legally challenged in Mauritius. Indeed, a number > of the legal cases brought against AFRINIC over the past decade hinge on > the fact that the Mauritian Companies Act limits many governance functions > to Registered Members No. The record of litigation reveals that the problem is not because Mauritius law gives rise to a basis to legally challenge the rights of Resource Members. The Act is quite clear on this point in s169 provides for injunctions brought by an "entitled person" which the Act defines to include any "person upon whom the constitution confers *any* of the rights and powers of a shareholder" (own emphasis). It is therefore true to say that "despite a lack of legal basis to legally challenge the rights of members certain staff and directors of Afrinic have denied the rights of Resource Members". Certain Afrinic staff have asserted, and repeatedly failed in making this assertion in the courts, that resource members lack standing. This issue has been fully ventilated in the courts of Mauritius save for the Privy Council. I don't however see the suits of Middlesex Guildhall making any radical departure from fairly well grounded principles of company law and equity (again we'd go into some major weeds if straightforward statutory resolution isn't possible) and I actually don't really see a path to even getting the issue appealed. Amusingly one of Afrinic's service firms is the subject of more than one matter that went to the JCPC on more than one occasion as it concerned the criminal sanction against a barrister who was convicted of money laundry charges where drug dealing was at issue but was not charged with a drug related offence but sentenced such as to include the context of drug related offenses. The result was getting out of jail. Same barrister sought to be re-admitted to practice in Mauritius and appealed the refusal of the Mauritius courts. If you have an interest in Mauritian law it makes for a good read. It is also why allegations of a fear of being locked up in some dungeon in Mauritius which has been expressed on these mailing lists is a little absurd. As a bit of trivia: The law lords making up the Board in JCPC sit wearing business attire rather than with all of the regalia. While the building housing the UK Supreme Court and the JCPC is a beautiful building, it isn't designed such as to convey extreme majesty and power being somewhat dwarfed by Westminster Abbey next door. What the Companies Act does not do is to afford a former director standing by virtue of Afrinic having failed to remove same director from the roll of "registered members", unfortunately staff at Afrinic behaved as though it did and more than a year was spent as a result of that misconduct by officers of the company. I am not aware of any effort by Afrinic to recover from same rogue director the money incurred improperly expended. Moreover the Companies Act does not afford ICANN or non-member industry bodies or purported industry bodies any legal standing in matters concerning the internal affairs of the company. The misadventure of Noah Maina being a sound example of this. What has also come about is some rather peculiar litigation and activities around the register of members that arise once there were no persons who were properly "registered members". The issues here become quite complicated and problematic but essentially a company needs a substratum which includes realizable objectives and a base of members or shareholders. The natural course is to wind up a company when it has no members - an outcome which is contrary to the best interests of the resource members who as entitled persons are entitled to injunctive relief. If this issue were to be fully litigated I suspect it will make its way to London and that the fees of the army of KCs engaged will make winding up inevitable. However the engagement of C&A Law by Afrinic and prior to the election last year the general approach of the Company makes it possible that destruction was the desired path. Again the solution is rather simple - for the court to authorize certain resource members to appear on the CRBD kept register - and for that to be those resource members who have assumed certain risks pertaining to the Company. Moving forward though the "fix" to the bylaws is either to eliminate the nonsensical registered member structure (and cause Afrinic to be a public company limited by guarantee) or to make provision for acquisition of a right to register as a registered member under certain circumstances. There has been a long history of resource members being told that they have no power because of the bylaws. But this is simply untrue. What is true is that the bylaws have by design made it exceedingly expensive (and not just from a monetary perspective) for resource members to exercise their rights. "include all AFRINIC Resource Members as Registered Members of the company. > While theoretically interesting, this suggestion effectively means that all > 2600-odd resource members would need to be registered with the Mauritian > Registrar of Companies. This does not seem like a particularly practical > solution." Rendering all "resource members" as "registered members" is not theoretically possible and is not "interesting". The entire construct of "registered members" is to provide for a situation in which the "actual members" are not actually members. If the CRBD is keeping the register then you are limited to 50 members (it was 25 but has increased). However what is not only possible but is fundamentally practical and necessary is for Afrinic to be a public company limited by guarantee. This would require maintaining a register of members in accordance with s91 of the Act. Afrinic will have to terminate several of its existing agreements with company service providers who have been engaged by Afrinic and it will need to properly align with the provisions of s269 and s269A of the Companies Act but it has to do that in any event. The exercise of "registering" members with the CRBD is because Afrinic has elected to be incorporated as a private company limited by guarantee rather than a public company limited by guarantee. This is a choice which produces the problems. I am concerned that ISPA does not advocate for Afrinic to be a proper members organization and for it to be a public company limited by guarantee under the Mauritius Companies' Act. The firmest explanation I have for the situation is that the bylaws of ARIN which is a Virginia non-stock corporation was used as the starting point for designing Afrinic My (admittedly biased by chosen education and self-interested) view is that it is safest to assume that the Americans are too stupid to own a computer or legal system. However even if you subscribe to the view that the American legal system has not been irreparably destroyed by generations of incompetence and stupidity it is probably better to align with the law of England and Wales and of Mauritius if you are going to be seated in Mauritius. There is no shortage of people in Africa who have a British law degree and there is no reason why Afrinic settled on Goinsamy Chinien and Ashok Radhakissoon to devise structures which are simply untenable. Causing Afrinic to discontinue with the nonsensical position of being a private company limited by guarantee and causing it to be an ordinary company limited by guarantee (which is public) is not only theoretically possible and interesting but also aligns with statutory developments under Mauritius law is precisely because the law of Mauritius is different today than it was in 2007. There is a case to be made that since 2021 it has been necessary to revisit Afrinic's bylaws (a term which points to some of the problem) due to the fact that the Company Constitution does not adequately address the requirements introduced into the Act [In case anybody is wondering in 2021 an obligation for outreach was introduced in s269(6) of the Act and in 2024 an entire s269A was added]. Furthermore the amendments to s91 are clearly devised with a legislative purpose of requiring a proper keeping and disclosing to the CRBD information. Now there is a little bit of a complication arising from the way the Act has been amended and devised. Section 269A is quite straightforward and will need to be implemented regardless of whether Afrinic is a public or private company limited by guarantee (as it applies to "every company limited by guarantee"). However s269 does not explicitly exclude from operation s91(3A) (only s91(3)) which is designed to achieve the same objectives but is designed in the frame of shareholding. The Act explicitly uses the term "ultimate beneficial owner" and I suspect that as implementation commences the disconnect will eventually land in the direction that a properly structured company limited by guarantee without shareholders is for "public benefit" and that adherence to s269A addresses the purpose of s91(3A). But I fear that if Afrinic does not before the 30th June 2026 develop the mechanism by which to come into full compliance with s91 of the Act as amended the situation will very quickly become incredibly untenable. This is particularly the case due to the fact that Afrinic is currently a "declared company" under s230 of the Act - even if the investigation itself has been kiboshed. As has been shown by trying to exclude the actual members (resource members) from proper governance of the Company and resorting to "registered members" and "community" and the like all that happens is that fertile space for bad actors to act exists. As I think I've said a few times with regard to Afrinic there is a very good answer as to solving certain problems found in the comedy *Liar Liar* to the idiot robbing ATMs at knifepoint. Moreover, even if the resource members were to wish for Afrinic to remain a private company limited by guarantee for whatever reason. [Arguments of trying to reduce the level of disclosure required, alignment with some nonsensical and mythical other RIR expectations and "trusteeship" or whatever] It is worth looking at what the Act says at present about the restriction of the number of members. In 2007 the Act proscribed a private company from having more than 25 shareholders. By extension a private company limited by guarantee was restricted from having more than 25 members. To circumvent the restriction and to import a concept from the Virginia statute Afrinic's 2007 bylaws introduced classes of quasi-membership with "registered members" being the members for the purpose of the Act and "resource members" being the actual members. The whole scheme was too clever by half and has an American stench to it. However the Act itself has been changed. Currently s269(1)(b) provides: "Section 270(a) shall not apply to a company limited by guarantee or a company limited by both shares and guarantee" and it is in section 270(a) that we find the provision limiting the number of shareholders. This addition to s269 was made in 2021 at which time s270(a) was amended from 25 to 50 shareholders. When the amendments of 2021 and 2024 are considered together the Act now requires companies limited by guarantee to embark of public education and record collation regardless of whether the entity is "private" or not. I am not aware of any private companies limited by guarantee which have more than 50 members but on the plain text there is now no longer a limit as to the number of members. Therefore, while it would in my view be a hairbrained scheme to try to reshuffle the deck chairs, any dive into the bylaws needs to consider how to avoid falling foul of the Act. If people really want to keep Afrinic as a private company limited by guarantee it isn't the Act which requires the problematic structure. Again it is concerning that ISPA appears to have been advised on the basis that "fixing the bylaws" does not entail asking the straightforward questions around statutory amendments in Mauritius. I suspect that this is a product of the Mauritius practitioners being given quite specific instructions which constrained them to preserve the fatally flawed starting assumptions. If you visit a podiatrist and don't tell him that you had a stroke expect to be given better suited shoes. If you ask a civil engineer for a bridge to be built they aren't going to solve your sewage problem. The same principle applies in most fields - the basis of engagement shapes the output. ISPA politely suggests that such submissions should be informed by > consideration of the Bylaws themselves together with considered analysis > from those who have AFRINIC’s members’ best interests at heart I, less politely, suggest that submissions need to be informed by regard for the Act and a clear eyed acceptance of design flaws from the inception of Afrinic and an appreciation that gross misconduct by certain employees and former directors of Afrinic are at the core of governance problem. ISPA notes that submissions to the AFRINIC Bylaws Review Committee are only > the first step on the review process, and that there will be a number of > additional opportunities for stakeholders to provide input. Because the clock of the 30th June 2026 is running I don't think there is really room for drawn out multiple steps of input approach. The officers of the company have known (or ought to have known about the amendments to the Act and C&A Law were retained after the 2021 amendments on the issue of governance compliance so the approaching deadline in the Act has been in the pipeline for several years. Fortunately the committee has sensible people heading the process who can see the wood for the trees but my money is on internal resistance and a desire to retain dangerous provisions such as the council of elders and restricting the nationality of the CEO [I don't understand why ISPA are proposing introducing additional complexity when the restriction must be simply removed] will frustrate things. ISPA trusts that its submission to the AFRINIC Bylaws Review Committee will be valuable in assisting the Committee in identifying portions of the Bylaws that are at odds with Mauritian company law so that those problems can all be remedied. I am afraid that whatever the engagement brief was, it hasn't really done much to identify portions of the bylaws that are at odds with Mauritian company law - particularly not Mauritian company law as amended. What it really seems to do is to take a set of perceived concerns and to look for language for the bylaws to be amended to address. That approach ignores foundational issues. Paul Hjul On Thu, 14 May 2026 at 20:27, <zanog-discuss-request(a)lists.nog.net.za> wrote: > > Send zanog-discuss mailing list submissions to > zanog-discuss(a)lists.nog.net.za > > To subscribe or unsubscribe via email, send a message with subject or > body 'help' to > zanog-discuss-request(a)lists.nog.net.za > > You can reach the person managing the list at > zanog-discuss-owner(a)lists.nog.net.za > > When replying, please edit your Subject line so it is more specific > than "Re: Contents of zanog-discuss digest..."Today's Topics: > > 1. ISPA Statement on Number Resource Society communication > (Elaine Zinn) > 2. Re: ISPA Statement on Number Resource Society communication > (Warwick Ward-Cox) > > > > ---------- Forwarded message ---------- > From: Elaine Zinn <elaine(a)ispa.org.za> > To: "'ZANog discuss'" <zanog-discuss(a)lists.nog.net.za> > Cc: > Bcc: > Date: Thu, 14 May 2026 14:10:29 +0200 > Subject: [zanog-discuss] ISPA Statement on Number Resource Society communication > > Dear ZANOG > > > > ISPA notes that the Number Resource Society (“NRS”) has recently circulated a statement claiming that “ISPA’s bylaw plan turns your AFRINIC rights into a gym membership”. By now, AFRINIC members should all be aware of the dubious reputation of NRS and know that any communication issued by that organisation is likely to be substantially untethered from facts. > > > > Nonetheless, ISPA wishes to make the following clear: > > > > ISPA does not have a “bylaw plan”. ISPA requested that its Mauritian legal team review the current AFRINIC Bylaws and highlight all of the areas where they conflict with Mauritian company law. In the interests of transparency, a first draft of this review was widely shared with ISPA’s members and with the ZANOG technical community. Clearly, NRS representatives saw this draft and decided to use it to further misinform the AFRINIC community. > > > > ISPA’s legal team identified the fact that AFRINIC Resource Members are not Registered Members of AFRINIC under Mauritian law as a key concern. This dissonance effectively means that many of the rights provided to Resource Members under the Bylaws can be legally challenged in Mauritius. Indeed, a number of the legal cases brought against AFRINIC over the past decade hinge on the fact that the Mauritian Companies Act limits many governance functions to Registered Members. > > > > ISPA’s legal team has proposed amendments to the Bylaws that would make it clear that only the directors of AFRINIC are Registered Members of the organisation, as well as introducing Community Resolutions as a mechanism for ensuring that resource members can still participate in AFRINIC governance. This is one approach to resolving the problem, and ISPA freely acknowledges that it has both pros and cons. > > > > In the NRS communication, an alternative proposal is made, which is to include all AFRINIC Resource Members as Registered Members of the company. While theoretically interesting, this suggestion effectively means that all 2600-odd resource members would need to be registered with the Mauritian Registrar of Companies. This does not seem like a particularly practical solution. > > > > ISPA notes that submissions to the AFRINIC Bylaws Review Committee are only the first step on the review process, and that there will be a number of additional opportunities for stakeholders to provide input. > > > > ISPA trusts that its submission to the AFRINIC Bylaws Review Committee will be valuable in assisting the Committee in identifying portions of the Bylaws that are at odds with Mauritian company law so that those problems can all be remedied. > > > > ISPA also encourages AFRINIC resource members to make their own submissions to AFRINIC. ISPA politely suggests that such submissions should be informed by consideration of the Bylaws themselves together with considered analysis from those who have AFRINIC’s members’ best interests at heart. > > > > Kind regards > > ISPA Secretariat > > secretariat(a)ispa.org.za > > Tel: 010 500 1200 > > > > > > > > > ---------- Forwarded message ---------- > From: Warwick Ward-Cox <warwick.ward-cox(a)computerpower.co.za> > To: ZANog discuss <zanog-discuss(a)lists.nog.net.za> > Cc: Elaine Zinn <elaine(a)ispa.org.za> > Bcc: > Date: Thu, 14 May 2026 20:25:45 +0200 > Subject: [zanog-discuss] Re: ISPA Statement on Number Resource Society communication > Nicely put. Thank you. > > On Thu, 14 May 2026, 14:12 Elaine Zinn via zanog-discuss, < zanog-discuss(a)lists.nog.net.za> wrote: >> >> Dear ZANOG >> >> >> >> ISPA notes that the Number Resource Society (“NRS”) has recently circulated a statement claiming that “ISPA’s bylaw plan turns your AFRINIC rights into a gym membership”. By now, AFRINIC members should all be aware of the dubious reputation of NRS and know that any communication issued by that organisation is likely to be substantially untethered from facts. >> >> >> >> Nonetheless, ISPA wishes to make the following clear: >> >> >> >> ISPA does not have a “bylaw plan”. ISPA requested that its Mauritian legal team review the current AFRINIC Bylaws and highlight all of the areas where they conflict with Mauritian company law. In the interests of transparency, a first draft of this review was widely shared with ISPA’s members and with the ZANOG technical community. Clearly, NRS representatives saw this draft and decided to use it to further misinform the AFRINIC community. >> >> >> >> ISPA’s legal team identified the fact that AFRINIC Resource Members are not Registered Members of AFRINIC under Mauritian law as a key concern. This dissonance effectively means that many of the rights provided to Resource Members under the Bylaws can be legally challenged in Mauritius. Indeed, a number of the legal cases brought against AFRINIC over the past decade hinge on the fact that the Mauritian Companies Act limits many governance functions to Registered Members. >> >> >> >> ISPA’s legal team has proposed amendments to the Bylaws that would make it clear that only the directors of AFRINIC are Registered Members of the organisation, as well as introducing Community Resolutions as a mechanism for ensuring that resource members can still participate in AFRINIC governance. This is one approach to resolving the problem, and ISPA freely acknowledges that it has both pros and cons. >> >> >> >> In the NRS communication, an alternative proposal is made, which is to include all AFRINIC Resource Members as Registered Members of the company. While theoretically interesting, this suggestion effectively means that all 2600-odd resource members would need to be registered with the Mauritian Registrar of Companies. This does not seem like a particularly practical solution. >> >> >> >> ISPA notes that submissions to the AFRINIC Bylaws Review Committee are only the first step on the review process, and that there will be a number of additional opportunities for stakeholders to provide input. >> >> >> >> ISPA trusts that its submission to the AFRINIC Bylaws Review Committee will be valuable in assisting the Committee in identifying portions of the Bylaws that are at odds with Mauritian company law so that those problems can all be remedied. >> >> >> >> ISPA also encourages AFRINIC resource members to make their own submissions to AFRINIC. ISPA politely suggests that such submissions should be informed by consideration of the Bylaws themselves together with considered analysis from those who have AFRINIC’s members’ best interests at heart. >> >> >> >> Kind regards >> >> ISPA Secretariat >> >> secretariat(a)ispa.org.za >> >> Tel: 010 500 1200 >> >> >> >> >> >> _______________________________________________ >> zanog-discuss mailing list -- zanog-discuss(a)lists.nog.net.za >> To unsubscribe send an email to zanog-discuss-leave(a)lists.nog.net.za > > _______________________________________________ > zanog-discuss mailing list -- zanog-discuss(a)lists.nog.net.za > To unsubscribe send an email to zanog-discuss-leave(a)lists.nog.net.za

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ISPA Statement on Number Resource Society communication
by Elaine Zinn 14 May '26

14 May '26

Dear ZANOG ISPA notes that the Number Resource Society ("NRS") has recently circulated a statement claiming that "ISPA's bylaw plan turns your AFRINIC rights into a gym membership". By now, AFRINIC members should all be aware of the dubious reputation of NRS and know that any communication issued by that organisation is likely to be substantially untethered from facts. Nonetheless, ISPA wishes to make the following clear: * ISPA does not have a "bylaw plan". ISPA requested that its Mauritian legal team review the current AFRINIC Bylaws and highlight all of the areas where they conflict with Mauritian company law. In the interests of transparency, a first draft of this review was widely shared with ISPA's members and with the ZANOG technical community. Clearly, NRS representatives saw this draft and decided to use it to further misinform the AFRINIC community. * ISPA's legal team identified the fact that AFRINIC Resource Members are not Registered Members of AFRINIC under Mauritian law as a key concern. This dissonance effectively means that many of the rights provided to Resource Members under the Bylaws can be legally challenged in Mauritius. Indeed, a number of the legal cases brought against AFRINIC over the past decade hinge on the fact that the Mauritian Companies Act limits many governance functions to Registered Members. * ISPA's legal team has proposed amendments to the Bylaws that would make it clear that only the directors of AFRINIC are Registered Members of the organisation, as well as introducing Community Resolutions as a mechanism for ensuring that resource members can still participate in AFRINIC governance. This is one approach to resolving the problem, and ISPA freely acknowledges that it has both pros and cons. * In the NRS communication, an alternative proposal is made, which is to include all AFRINIC Resource Members as Registered Members of the company. While theoretically interesting, this suggestion effectively means that all 2600-odd resource members would need to be registered with the Mauritian Registrar of Companies. This does not seem like a particularly practical solution. * ISPA notes that submissions to the AFRINIC Bylaws Review Committee are only the first step on the review process, and that there will be a number of additional opportunities for stakeholders to provide input. * ISPA trusts that its submission to the AFRINIC Bylaws Review Committee will be valuable in assisting the Committee in identifying portions of the Bylaws that are at odds with Mauritian company law so that those problems can all be remedied. * ISPA also encourages AFRINIC resource members to make their own submissions <https://afrinic.net/community-consultation-review-bylaws> to AFRINIC. ISPA politely suggests that such submissions should be informed by consideration of the Bylaws themselves together with considered analysis from those who have AFRINIC's members' best interests at heart. Kind regards ISPA Secretariat secretariat(a)ispa.org.za <mailto:secretariat@ispa.org.za> Tel: 010 500 1200

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containerlab repo.
by Nishal Goburdhan 09 May '26

09 May '26

(with apologies to nardus who asked me to send this out much earlier ..) if you attended the ZANOG day0 training this year on containerlabs, the referenced github repo is at : https://github.com/nardusleroux/zanog26-containerlab-workshop —n.

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ISPA: review of the AFRINIC By-Laws (submission due 2026-05-10)
by Elaine Zinn 07 May '26

07 May '26

Dear ZANOG AFRINIC is currently conducting a public review of its by-laws. ISPA requested its Mauritian lawyers to review the by-laws to ensure that they are consistent with the Mauritian legal framework and to identify potential changes that could protect AFRINIC from future legal challenges as much as possible. A first draft of this review has been attached. If you wish to provide additional comments to ISPA for consideration by the lawyers, please submit your feedback by no later than 09:00 tomorrow morning (2026-05-08). The deadline for submissions to AFRINIC is Sunday, 10 May 2026. Please note that members are also encouraged to make their own submissions to AFRINIC: https://afrinic.net/community-consultation-review-bylaws Kind regards

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AIS'26 Meeting Update
by AFRINIC Communication 30 Apr '26

30 Apr '26

Dear Colleagues, The preparations for the Africa Internet Summit 2026 (AIS’26) are well underway. AIS’26 will be hosted in a hybrid format, welcoming participants onsite in Nairobi and virtually via Zoom. Full event details and updates are available on the AIS’26 website. https://2026.internetsummit.africa/ Here are your AIS’26 Updates: Registration is Open Registration for both onsite and online participation is ongoing. We strongly encourage you to register early to confirm your attendance, whether in Nairobi or virtually, noting that we will not have any on-site registration. Register here. https://2026.internetsummit.africa/component/rsform/form/4-registration-for… Call for Presentations We are still welcoming presentation abstracts for AIS’26, and this is your chance to be part of shaping the conversation. AIS’26 provides a platform for experts and innovators to share their knowledge, spark dialogue, and showcase practical solutions to some of Africa’s most pressing Internet challenges. By presenting at AIS’26, you will contribute to driving collaboration and inspiring the future of the Internet across the continent. Please take note of the important deadlines: • Deadline for submitting presentation abstracts: 24th May 2026 • Deadline for submission of draft presentations: 6th June 2026 • Submission of final presentations: 16th June 2026 We encourage you to seize this opportunity to take the stage at AIS’26 and share your expertise with a diverse and influential audience. Be part of AIS’26 as a speaker. https://2026.internetsummit.africa/participate/call-for-presentation Call for Sponsorship AIS’26 offers a powerful platform for brands, organizations, and innovators seeking to make an impact in Africa’s digital landscape. As a sponsor or partner, you will have the opportunity to: • Gain high-level visibility across Africa’s ICT and policy space. • Showcase your brand through dedicated sessions, exhibition booths, or side events. • Engage directly with government officials, academia, industry leaders, and civil society stakeholders. A range of sponsorship packages (https://2026.internetsummit.africa/index.php/sponsorship) alongside the Sponsorship Brochure (https://2026.internetsummit.africa/media/attachments/2026/04/16/ais26---spo…) are available and we welcome discussions on tailored opportunities aligned to your organisation’s objectives.Travel Please note that some countries require visas to travel to Kenya. All Visa information is available Here. (https://2026.internetsummit.africa/travel) Book your accommodation at the event venue in the Accommodation section here. (https://2026.internetsummit.africa/travel/accommodations) Those who wish to book their accommodation at the event venue are required to do so by 25th May 2026. Delegates are advised to book their airport transfers directly with their respective hotel. Updates and News You can keep informed with updates and the latest news about AIS’26 on the website. (https://2026.internetsummit.africa/) You can also follow us on twitter with the handle @AIS_Africa We are using the hashtag #AIS2026 For questions or assistance with logistics, feel free to reach us at: secretariat(a)internetsummit.africa Whether you’re a first-time attendee or a returning participant, we look forward to welcoming you to AIS’26 in Nairobi or connecting with you virtually. Karibu AIS’26! AIS’26 Secretariat. secretariat(a)internetsummit.africa ………………….. Cher(e)s Délégué(e)s, Les préparatifs de la tenue de l'African Internet Summit 2026 (AIS’26) sont en cours. L’AIS’26 se tiendra en format hybride, avec des participants en présentiel à Nairobi et d’autres en ligne via Zoom. Les détails complets de l’événement ainsi que les mises à jour de l’agenda sont disponibles sur le site web de l’AIS’26. (https://2026.internetsummit.africa/) Voici les dernières informations concernant l’AIS’26: Les inscriptions sont toujours ouvertes Les inscriptions pour participer en présentiel et en ligne sont en cours. Nous vous encourageons vivement à vous inscrire massivement maintenant. Veuillez noter que les inscriptions ne seront pas possibles sur place lors de l’AIS’26. https://2026.internetsummit.africa/component/rsform/form/4-registration-for… Appel à présentations Nous recevons encore les résumés de présentations pour l’AIS’26. Cette opportunité vous permet de contribuer activement aux échanges qui façonneront l’avenir de l’Internet en Afrique. L’AIS’26 réunira des experts, innovateurs et acteurs clés du secteur afin de partager des connaissances, encourager le dialogue et présenter des solutions concrètes aux principaux défis liés au développement de l’Internet sur le continent. En prenant la parole lors de cet événement, vous contribuerez à renforcer la collaboration et à promouvoir des initiatives porteuses pour l’écosystème numérique africain. Veuillez prendre note des échéances importantes suivantes : • Date limite de soumission des résumés de présentations : 24 mai 2026 • Date limite de soumission des projets de présentations : 6 juin 2026 • Soumission des présentations finales : 16 juin 2026 Veuillez vous inscrire ici comme orateur. https://2026.internetsummit.africa/participate/call-for-presentation Appel au sponsoring L’AIS’26 offre une plateforme stratégique aux marques, organisations et innovateurs qui souhaitent avoir un impact dans l’écosystème numérique africain. En tant que sponsor ou partenaire, vous aurez l’occasion de : • bénéficier d’une visibilité de haut niveau dans l’espace africain des TIC et des politiques publiques ; • mettre en valeur votre marque à travers des sessions dédiées, des stands d’exposition ou des événements parallèles ; • échanger directement avec des représentants gouvernementaux, des universitaires, des leaders de l’industrie et des acteurs de la société civile. Plusieurs formules de sponsoring, (https://2026.internetsummit.africa/index.php/sponsorship) ainsi que la brochure de sponsoring, (https://2026.internetsummit.africa/media/attachments/2026/04/16/ais26---spo…) sont disponibles. Nous restons ouverts à des discussions sur des opportunités personnalisées, alignées sur les objectifs de votre organisation. Voyage Toutes les informations relatives aux visas d'entrée au Kenya sont disponibles ici. (https://2026.internetsummit.africa/travel) Pour la réservation de votre hébergement, veuillez vous rendre ici. (https://2026.internetsummit.africa/travel/accommodations) Les personnes désireuses de séjourner sur le site de l’événement d’AIS’26 doivent le faire au plus tard le 25 mai 2026. Les délégués sont invités à organiser leurs transferts depuis l’aéroport directement auprès de leur hôtel respectif. Autres actualités Pour rester informé des dernières actualités et mises à jour concernant l’AIS’26, veuillez consulter régulièrement le site web de l’événement. (https://2026.internetsummit.africa/) Vous pouvez également suivre nos communications sur Twitter via le compte @AIS_Africa et utiliser le hashtag #AIS2026. Pour toute question ou demande d’assistance logistique, veuillez contacter le Secrétariat de l’AIS’26 à l’adresse suivante : secretariat(a)internetsummit.africa. Que vous soyez un nouveau participant ou un habitué de l’événement, nous serons heureux de vous accueillir à Nairobi ou de vous compter parmi les participants en ligne. Karibu AIS’26 ! Secrétariat de l’AIS’26 secretariat(a)internetsummit.africa

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Register for the “AFRINIC Bylaws Review - Community Engagement” Webinar, 4th May 2026, 15:00 UTC.
by comms＠afrinic.net 30 Apr '26

30 Apr '26

Apologies for cross-posting] [Version en français au bas] Dear Colleagues, As AFRINIC continues to strengthen transparency, accountability, and community-driven governance, the ongoing Bylaws Review process presents a critical opportunity for stakeholders to directly influence the AFRINIC’s future in the Community Consultation<https://afrinic.net/community-consultation-review-bylaws> that closes on 10th May 2026. The AFRINIC Bylaws Review Committee is hosting a webinar to provide clarity, drive awareness, and encourage meaningful contributions to the process. Webinar Details Date: 4th May 2026 Time: 15:00 UTC (1 hour) Register Here<https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/6517773830151/WN_EIm8OC-2Q72X_w9bI…> The AFRINIC Bylaws are the foundation of how the AFRINIC is governed (from decision-making structures to member representation and accountability mechanisms) and any revisions in the bylaws will have lasting implications for the management of Internet number resources across Africa and the Indian Ocean region. Participants will have the opportunity to gain insights into the consultation process and seek clarifications directly from members of the Committee. The webinar is open to all stakeholders, including AFRINIC members and the wider Internet community. What you will gain from this session * A clear understanding of the Bylaws Review process and why it matters. * Practical guidance on how to submit informed and effective feedback. * An opportunity to ask questions and engage directly with the process. * The knowledge needed to confidently participate before the consultation deadline. We look forward to welcoming you. Kind Regards, AFRINIC Communications. ————————————— FR Inscrivez-vous au webinaire « AFRINIC Bylaws Review - Community Engagement», le 4 mai 2026 à 15 h 00 UTC. Chers collègues, Alors qu’AFRINIC continue de renforcer la transparence, la responsabilité et une gouvernance portée par la communauté, le processus en cours de révision des statuts constitue une occasion cruciale pour les parties prenantes d’influencer directement l’avenir d’AFRINIC dans le cadre de la consultation communautaire<https://afrinic.net/community-consultation-review-bylaws> qui se clôturera le 10 mai 2026. Le comité de révision des statuts d’AFRINIC organise un webinaire afin d’apporter des éclaircissements, de sensibiliser et d’encourager des contributions significatives à ce processus. Détails du webinaire Date : 4 mai 2026 Heure : 15.00-16.00 GMT Inscrivez-vous ici Les statuts d’AFRINIC constituent la base de la gouvernance d’AFRINIC (des structures de prise de décision à la représentation des membres et aux mécanismes de responsabilité), et toute révision de ces statuts aura des répercussions durables sur la gestion des numéros Internet à travers l’Afrique et la région de l’océan Indien. Les participants auront l’occasion d’obtenir des informations sur le processus de consultation et de poser directement leurs questions aux membres du comité. Le webinaire est ouvert à toutes les parties prenantes, y compris les membres d’AFRINIC et l’ensemble de la communauté Internet. Ce que vous retirerez de cette session: * Une compréhension claire du processus de révision des statuts et de son importance. * Des conseils pratiques sur la manière de soumettre des contributions éclairées et efficaces. * Une occasion de poser des questions et d’interagir directement avec le processus. * Les connaissances nécessaires pour participer en toute confiance avant la date limite de la consultation. Nous nous réjouissons de vous accueillir. Cordialement, AFRINIC Communications

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