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Anriette,</div>
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Thanks for your comments. I think your question about the relationship between the African Union and Smart Africa (SA) is an important one to pursue. It is relevant if SA succeeds in establishing some kind of Council (CAIGA) that has supervisory authority over
AFRINIC. I think that is a bad idea and I also think it is highly unlikely. But as a partner of SA, ICANN needs to confront this question.</div>
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As for "generalizations about the region and its governments," sorry if you read that into the article. No such generalizations were intended. Your misinterpretation shows that nationalism and identity politics are big obstacles to clear thinking about Internet
governance, especially in this case. There is no statement anywhere in that blog, or in anything I have ever written, that says Africa is "inherently" unstable or undemocratic. Inherent means "existing in something as a permanent, essential, or characteristic
attribute." No, the article merely calls attention to the fact that many of its current governments are undemocratic or unstable, which is a fact. Some African governments are not unstable or undemocratic, and there is certainly long term hope that stability
and liberal democracy will come to additional African states. </div>
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The point is, all these governments would be part of a board that wants to govern AFRINIC. So what kind of principles and policies would ensue? Geopolitics and national interests are "inherent" features of multilateral, government institutions. That is my argument,
and it applies to all regions, not just Africa.</div>
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The article advocates for <b>self-governance</b> of AFRINIC by its <b>members, </b>
and opposes an overlay of state-directed control. This is what we mean by "the multistakeholder model," is it not? My rejection of state control and digital sovereignty applies to the U.S. government, to European governments, etc. Our current experience with
the Trump administration and its nationalistic, nativist, sovereigntist policies is an excellent example of why I don't want states setting policies for the global coordination of Internet identifiers. It also explains why I was and remain a big advocate of
eliminating U.S. control of ICANN during the 2014-2016 transition. I think I have been perfectly consistent about this. </div>
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<span style="font-family: Aptos, Aptos_EmbeddedFont, Aptos_MSFontService, Calibri, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Dr. Milton L Mueller</span></p>
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<span style="font-family: Aptos, Aptos_EmbeddedFont, Aptos_MSFontService, Calibri, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Georgia Institute of Technology</span></p>
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<span style="font-family: Aptos, Aptos_EmbeddedFont, Aptos_MSFontService, Calibri, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Carter School of Public Policy</span></p>
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<a style="text-decoration: none; margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px;" title="https://internetgovernance.org" href="https://internetgovernance.org"><img height="71" width="287" style="width: 287.595px; height: 71px; margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px;" id="x_x_x_image_0" data-outlook-trace="F:1|T:1" src="cid:853c9b57-4044-46f8-b1a9-5d17aae17069"></a></p>
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<b>From:</b> Anriette Esterhuysen <anriette@apc.org><br>
<b>Sent:</b> Sunday, November 16, 2025 10:44 AM<br>
<b>To:</b> Mueller, Milton L <milton@GATECH.EDU>; NCSG-DISCUSS@LISTSERV.SYR.EDU <NCSG-DISCUSS@LISTSERV.SYR.EDU><br>
<b>Subject:</b> Re: Is ICANN helping to subvert its own governance model?</div>
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<p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px;">Dear Milton</p>
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<p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px;">You are often the person that asks tough questions in an uncompromising way. I like and value that about you even when I don't agree with you :) But speaking as an African I would appreciate it if you could do
so without making generalisations about the region and its governments. Africa is not inherently 'unstable' or undemocratic, as you imply. In fact, living in the US at present you probably have firsthand knowledge of how erratic states and their leaders can
be and how risky it is to make assumptions about them.</p>
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<p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px;">From my perspective as someone who has tried to follow the process closely, but from a distance, I do have questions over and above those in the NCSG letter, but they can wait for a bit later and should be addressed
to the AfriNIC board and to Smart Africa and the African Union.</p>
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<p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px;">For example, does the MOU between Smart Africa and the African Union Commission include commitment to comply with the
<a data-auth="NotApplicable" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px;" class="OWAAutoLink" id="OWA04994918-0c93-7919-f9c9-520b5736c8d0" href="https://au.int/sites/default/files/documents/42078-doc-DATA-POLICY-FRAMEWORKS-2024-ENG-V2.pdf">
AU's Data Policy Framework</a>, and the <a data-auth="NotApplicable" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px;" class="OWAAutoLink" id="OWA15e9226e-61ff-9051-3bc2-0111ec923c0f" href="https://au.int/sites/default/files/newsevents/workingdocuments/33025-wd-african_declaration_on_internet_governance_en_0.pdf">
AU Declaration on Internet Governance </a> which affirms freedom of expression, openness and the WSIS principles of multistakeholder participation? And, will Smart Africa int is interaction/support of AfriNIC adhere to the
<a data-auth="NotApplicable" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px;" class="OWAAutoLink" id="OWA340cc9bc-c2a3-968e-9f31-84092266467a" href="cid:part2.Naj000J0.A4kgHMma@apc.org">
African Commission on Human and People's Rights Declaration of Principles on Freedom of Expression</a>. The latter is a particularly strong document and shaped by multistakeholder consultation and in particular civil society input. AfriNIC has in the past
been active in the formulation of AU internet-related policies.</p>
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<p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px;">I also have questions on how Smart Africa, which is indeed doing good work and filling a gap left by the lack of capacity at the African Union Commission, plans to work with civil society and promote and protect
human rights in its digital governance work. While Smart Africa does not exclude civil society, it does seem to practice its multistakeholder approach primarily through working with the private sector. AfriNIC also always needed to strengthen its connections
with civil society. I hope that new board will help make that happen. </p>
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<p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px;">These are not questions for ICANN but I think they are questions relevant to many NCSG members involved in internet governance in Africa (and beyond). Emmanuel and others, if you do have some of the answers
to my questions, please share.</p>
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<p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px;">Thanks</p>
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<p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px;">Anriette</p>
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<pre><div>Anriette Esterhuysen - <a class="x_moz-txt-link-abbreviated OWAAutoLink" id="OWA3b68455d-fcb7-1333-c218-eefbcb0c2632" href="mailto:anriette@apc.org//anriette@gmail.com">anriette@apc.org//anriette@gmail.com</a></div></pre>
<div>On 2025/11/14 17:50, Mueller, Milton L wrote:</div>
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I support the letter 100%</div>
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<b>From:</b> Rafik Dammak <a class="x_moz-txt-link-rfc2396E OWAAutoLink" id="OWA7659ea08-5de8-2202-6af9-b15a59e5b1c3" href="mailto:rafik.dammak@gmail.com">
<rafik.dammak@gmail.com></a><br>
<b>Sent:</b> Friday, November 14, 2025 1:55 AM<br>
<b>To:</b> NCSG <a class="x_moz-txt-link-rfc2396E OWAAutoLink" id="OWA238fa6c9-1df2-0361-2868-8e8ecefb4b4f" href="mailto:ncsg-discuss@listserv.syr.edu">
<ncsg-discuss@listserv.syr.edu></a>; ncsg-pc <a class="x_moz-txt-link-rfc2396E OWAAutoLink" id="OWA0deffd51-e49f-56c9-ea61-a356ff4a02b6" href="mailto:ncsg-pc@lists.ncsg.is">
<ncsg-pc@lists.ncsg.is></a><br>
<b>Cc:</b> Mueller, Milton L <a class="x_moz-txt-link-rfc2396E OWAAutoLink" id="OWAd3219216-5920-5b87-ffd9-7b0633f05743" href="mailto:milton@gatech.edu">
<milton@gatech.edu></a><br>
<b>Subject:</b> Re: [NCSG-Discuss] Is ICANN helping to subvert its own governance model?</div>
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<div style="direction: ltr;">hi all,</div>
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<div style="direction: ltr;">thanks for the comments and input to letter, here the new version after resolving the changes
<a data-auth="NotApplicable" class="x_moz-txt-link-freetext OWAAutoLink" id="OWAbc680c7a-b419-92a7-6fb7-12ae9e4c66d4" href="https://docs.google.com/document/d/1CPgRLILaCtsda8YRA4mUtElLXYS6udjF8cHvTo2AXHI/edit?tab=t.0">
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1CPgRLILaCtsda8YRA4mUtElLXYS6udjF8cHvTo2AXHI/edit?tab=t.0</a> .</div>
<div style="direction: ltr;">If there is no strong objection or concern, we can send this letter asap to the board for consideration, hopefully by the end of the day.</div>
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<div style="direction: ltr;">Best,</div>
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<div style="direction: ltr;">Rafik</div>
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<div style="direction: ltr;">Le jeu. 13 nov. 2025 à 23:08, Mueller, Milton L <<a class="x_moz-txt-link-freetext OWAAutoLink" id="OWA3064c511-f86e-b99e-4978-53afb5f1c511" href="mailto:00001d75540da649-dmarc-request@listserv.syr.edu">00001d75540da649-dmarc-request@listserv.syr.edu</a>>
a écrit :</div>
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> I want to urge NCSG members that as we ask for more information, we do so without undermining AfriNIC's new board </div>
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> and the efforts of this board and those working with it to stabilise AfriNIC. They need our support.</div>
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Absolutely correct. The focus should be on CAIGA proposal, which deviates from multistakeholder principles, the new Afrinic board has very little to do with that as far as I know. </div>
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<span style="font-family: Aptos, Aptos_EmbeddedFont, Aptos_MSFontService, Calibri, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Dr.</span>
<span style="font-family: Aptos, Aptos_EmbeddedFont, Aptos_MSFontService, Calibri, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
Milton L Mueller</span></p>
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<span style="font-family: Aptos, Aptos_EmbeddedFont, Aptos_MSFontService, Calibri, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Georgia Institute of Technology</span></p>
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<span style="font-family: Aptos, Aptos_EmbeddedFont, Aptos_MSFontService, Calibri, Helvetica, sans-serif;">School of Public Policy</span></p>
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<a data-auth="NotApplicable" style="text-decoration: none; margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px;" title="https://internetgovernance.org" class="OWAAutoLink" id="OWAeaa6ed23-bdc7-f366-bf70-5a824322d8b9" href="https://internetgovernance.org"><img size="6990" height="79" width="320" style="width: 320px; height: 79px; margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px;" id="x_x_m_-1162883159886474037image_0" data-outlook-trace="F:2|T:2" src="cid:part1.TU0719aP.MX50poOU@apc.org"></a></p>
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