[NCSG-PC] TOO FAST: Is ICANN helping to subvert its own governance model?

[farzaneh badii]

Hi Kathy,

You are an observer on this list. We appreciate your work so we thought it
would be great to benefit from your viewpoints on policy matters but
sending the email here to influence an NCSG decision on a PC member and
observer only mailing list is very unfortunate. That letter was drafted
with utmost care, after talking to a number of our members from Africa.
There is support on the mailing list to send the letter and there is one
objection from Emmanuel.  Anriette also did not oppose sending the letter,
she contributed to it and we reframed a few things based on her comment. As
to the AFRINIC Board, Rafik considered this the moment he suggested sending
the letter, we came up with a plan to inform Adewale and assure him that
this letter is not about AFRINIC but about involvement of ICANN and ICP2
and also see what he thinks. Rafik has already sent that letter to Adewale.
This letter has to be sent soon because our concern with ICANN should be
recorded as they are discussing the CAIGA blueprint during TAS. Our letter
does not cast any doubt on AFRINIC's board. If this was an AFRINIC matter
we would not have even gotten involved. We are concerned about ICANN's role
and we have questions. You know that the multistakeholder bottom-up process
is under attack everyday. It is our job to defend it.
I am going to reach out to other members based in or from Africa during the
weekend just to reaffirm that we have the support of our members from
Africa as some might not have the luxury of speaking up on the mailing list
as we do.

As to your last question. I don't think it is a fair question, it is not
based on substantive matters but it's personal. All I have to say is that I
have known her for 15 years. I never worked with her directly but  I
learned Internet governance from her by observing her. She is a true
defender of a global interoperable Internet and multistakeholder model and
it doesn't matter who her employer is, and she can't be misled easily. She
fights for what is right. When we reached out to ask if we could mention
her work she said we could but only if we had the support of our African
members and discussed with Adewale and not interfered with AFRINIC Board
matters.
(Kathy, I can say the above about you too. I learned a lot from you. Let's
talk about substance.)

Best regards,

Farzaneh


On Fri, Nov 14, 2025 at 9:09 AM Kathy Kleiman <Kathy at kathykleiman.com>
wrote:

> All,  I'm sorry, but I do not support the sending of this letter right now.
>
> We have members - wonderful members - who were deeply involved in the work
> of saving AfriNIC. They really stood on the front lines working, writing,
> drafting amicus briefs for the court and truly working hard to keep the
> Supreme Court of Mauritius from dissolving AfriNIC.
>
> *One of our members is now on the Board of AfriNIC, and further, he was
> elected Chair of AfriNIC.  Before we do anything to hurt things -- why
> don't we do some more research?  Why don't we talk to our members (who may
> be taking a much needed rest as they are very quiet)?*
>
> Questions and letters can hurt -- we've been warned by Anriette and I
> confirm. *Also, could someone please tell me who Alice is working for
> these days?  *It would be fair and useful to know.
>
> *Why the rush?  Let's wait until next week -- and take the time to talk
> with our own members and leaders. Let's not inadvertently hurt something
> new and growing -- let's wait for our members who are directly involved to
> work with us.  *
>
> Best, Kathy
> On 11/14/2025 1:55 AM, Rafik Dammak wrote:
>
> 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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