[Ncsg-discuss] Is ICANN helping to subvert its own governance model?

[Anriette Esterhuysen]

Dear Milton


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.


 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.


For example, does the MOU between Smart Africa and the African Union 
Commission include commitment to comply with the AU's Data Policy 
Framework 
<https://au.int/sites/default/files/documents/42078-doc-DATA-POLICY-FRAMEWORKS-2024-ENG-V2.pdf>, 
and the AU Declaration on Internet Governance 
<https://au.int/sites/default/files/newsevents/workingdocuments/33025-wd-african_declaration_on_internet_governance_en_0.pdf> 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 African Commission on 
Human and People's Rights Declaration of Principles on Freedom of 
Expression <cid:part2.Naj000J0.A4kgHMma at apc.org>. 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.


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.


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.


Thanks


Anriette







Anriette Esterhuysen -anriette at apc.org//anriette at gmail.com

On 2025/11/14 17:50, Mueller, Milton L wrote:
> I support the letter 100%
>
> ------------------------------------------------------------------------
> *From:* Rafik Dammak <rafik.dammak at gmail.com>
> *Sent:* Friday, November 14, 2025 1:55 AM
> *To:* NCSG <ncsg-discuss at listserv.syr.edu>; ncsg-pc 
> <ncsg-pc at lists.ncsg.is>
> *Cc:* Mueller, Milton L <milton at gatech.edu>
> *Subject:* Re: [NCSG-Discuss] Is ICANN helping to subvert its own 
> governance model?
> hi all,
>
> thanks for the comments and input to letter, here the new version 
> after resolving the changes 
> https://docs.google.com/document/d/1CPgRLILaCtsda8YRA4mUtElLXYS6udjF8cHvTo2AXHI/edit?tab=t.0 .
> 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.
>
> Best,
>
> Rafik
>
> Le jeu. 13 nov. 2025 à 23:08, Mueller, Milton L 
> <00001d75540da649-dmarc-request at listserv.syr.edu> a écrit :
>
>
>     > I want to urge NCSG members that as we ask for more information,
>     we do so without undermining AfriNIC's new board
>     > and the efforts of this board and those working with it to
>     stabilise AfriNIC. They need our support.
>
>     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.
>
>
>     Dr. Milton L Mueller
>
>     Georgia Institute of Technology
>
>     School of Public Policy
>
>     <https://internetgovernance.org>
>
>
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