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</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]--></head><body bgcolor="#C2AA7A" lang=EN-US link="#0000EE" vlink="#551A8B"><div class=WordSection1><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><div align=center><table class=MsoNormalTable border=0 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 width=650 style='width:487.5pt'><tr><td style='background:white;padding:0in 0in 0in 0in'><p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'> <o:p></o:p></p></td></tr><tr><td style='background:white;padding:0in 0in 0in 0in'><p class=MsoNormal align=right style='text-align:right'><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/afrinic/"><span style='text-decoration:none'><img border=0 width=32 height=32 id="_x0000_i1025" src="cid:part1.09000609.05050309@afrinic.net"></span></a><a href="http://www.twitter.com/#%21/afrinic"><span style='text-decoration:none'><img border=0 width=32 height=32 id="_x0000_i1026" src="cid:part2.03020806.05080402@afrinic.net"></span></a><a href="http://youtu.be/CzPibqE3N6A?hd=1"><span style='text-decoration:none'><img border=0 width=32 height=32 id="_x0000_i1027" src="cid:part3.03010703.02080300@afrinic.net"></span></a><o:p></o:p></p></td></tr><tr><td style='background:white;padding:0in 0in 0in 0in'><p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'><img border=0 width=650 height=201 id="_x0000_i1028" src="cid:part4.04060307.05040905@afrinic.net"><o:p></o:p></p></td></tr><tr><td style='background:white;padding:0in 0in 0in 0in'><p class=MsoNormal> <o:p></o:p></p></td></tr><tr><td style='background:white;padding:0in 0in 0in 0in'><table class=MsoNormalTable border=0 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 width=650 style='width:487.5pt'><tr style='height:22.5pt'><td width=10 style='width:7.5pt;background:#D9C69E;padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;height:22.5pt'><p class=MsoNormal> <o:p></o:p></p></td><td width=203 style='width:152.25pt;background:#D9C69E;padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;height:22.5pt'><p class=MsoNormal><strong>17 May 2012</strong><o:p></o:p></p></td><td width=437 style='width:327.75pt;padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;height:22.5pt'><p class=MsoNormal> <o:p></o:p></p></td></tr></table></td></tr><tr><td style='background:white;padding:0in 0in 0in 0in'><p class=MsoNormal> <o:p></o:p></p></td></tr><tr><td style='background:white;padding:0in 0in 0in 0in'><table class=MsoNormalTable border=0 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 width=650 style='width:487.5pt'><tr><td width=25 style='width:18.75pt;padding:0in 0in 0in 0in'><p class=MsoNormal> <o:p></o:p></p></td><td width=600 style='width:6.25in;padding:0in 0in 0in 0in'><table class=MsoNormalTable border=0 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 width=600 style='width:6.25in'><tr style='height:97.5pt'><td width=287 valign=top style='width:215.25pt;padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;height:97.5pt'><p class=MsoNormal><img border=0 width=287 height=130 id="_x0000_i1029" src="cid:part5.00040005.06010703@afrinic.net"><o:p></o:p></p></td><td width=25 style='width:18.75pt;padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;height:97.5pt'><p class=MsoNormal> <o:p></o:p></p></td><td width=288 valign=top style='width:3.0in;padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;height:97.5pt'><p><strong><span style='font-size:7.5pt;color:#333333'>Gambia VP officially opens meeting</span></strong><o:p></o:p></p><p><span style='font-size:7.5pt;color:#333333'>The Gambia Vice President Dr Aja Isatou Njie-Saidy officially opened AFRINIC 16. Appreciating the role the Internet has played in social and economic developments in Africa, she challenged the Internet community to enhance Internet availability in the continent as a tool for further development.</span><o:p></o:p></p></td></tr></table></td><td width=25 style='width:18.75pt;padding:0in 0in 0in 0in'><p class=MsoNormal> <o:p></o:p></p></td></tr></table></td></tr><tr><td style='background:white;padding:0in 0in 0in 0in'><p class=MsoNormal><img border=0 width=650 height=17 id="_x0000_i1030" src="cid:part6.03080500.00000301@afrinic.net"><o:p></o:p></p></td></tr><tr><td style='background:white;padding:0in 0in 0in 0in'><table class=MsoNormalTable border=0 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 width=650 style='width:487.5pt'><tr><td width=25 style='width:18.75pt;padding:0in 0in 0in 0in'><p class=MsoNormal> <o:p></o:p></p></td><td width=600 style='width:6.25in;padding:0in 0in 0in 0in'><table class=MsoNormalTable border=0 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 width=600 style='width:6.25in'><tr style='height:1.25in'><td width=183 style='width:137.25pt;padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;height:1.25in'><p class=MsoNormal><img border=0 width=183 height=120 id="_x0000_i1031" src="cid:part7.02020505.03040505@afrinic.net"><o:p></o:p></p></td><td width=25 style='width:18.75pt;padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;height:1.25in'><p class=MsoNormal> <o:p></o:p></p></td><td width=183 style='width:137.25pt;padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;height:1.25in'><p class=MsoNormal><img border=0 width=183 height=120 id="_x0000_i1032" src="cid:part8.08060200.03020804@afrinic.net"><o:p></o:p></p></td><td width=25 style='width:18.75pt;padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;height:1.25in'><p class=MsoNormal> <o:p></o:p></p></td><td width=183 style='width:137.25pt;padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;height:1.25in'><p class=MsoNormal><img border=0 width=183 height=120 id="_x0000_i1033" src="cid:part9.06010403.00030409@afrinic.net"><o:p></o:p></p></td></tr></table><p class=MsoNormal><span style='display:none'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><table class=MsoNormalTable border=0 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 width=600 style='width:6.25in'><tr><td width=183 valign=top style='width:137.25pt;padding:0in 0in 0in 0in'><p><strong><span style='font-size:7.5pt;color:#333333'>Democracy at work </span></strong><o:p></o:p></p><p><span style='font-size:7.5pt;color:#333333'>Delegates deliberated on the election processes. AFRINIC is electing two board members to represent the Eastern, and Southern Africa regions. The meeting will also elect the Co-Chair for the Policy Development Working Group.</span><o:p></o:p></p></td><td width=25 style='width:18.75pt;padding:0in 0in 0in 0in'><p class=MsoNormal> <o:p></o:p></p></td><td width=183 valign=top style='width:137.25pt;padding:0in 0in 0in 0in'><p><strong><span style='font-size:7.5pt;color:#333333'>Gender and ICT</span></strong><o:p></o:p></p><p><span style='font-size:7.5pt;color:#333333'>The Women in ICT initiative was one of the highlights of the day. The initiative gives women an opportunity and space to mainstream their issues. Female participants had lunch together during which they discussed various issues relating to internet access among women in Africa.</span><o:p></o:p></p></td><td width=25 style='width:18.75pt;padding:0in 0in 0in 0in'><p class=MsoNormal> <o:p></o:p></p></td><td width=183 valign=top style='width:137.25pt;padding:0in 0in 0in 0in'><p><strong><span style='font-size:7.5pt;color:#333333'>Making the laws</span></strong><span style='font-size:7.5pt;color:#333333'><br><br>AFRINIC's Legal Counsellor Ashok Radhakissoon explained changes made to existing bylaws. The community has been invited to comment on the proposed changes before the final document is drawn. The bylaws define what the organization is, what it stands for, the governance structure among other issues. </span><o:p></o:p></p></td></tr></table></td><td width=25 style='width:18.75pt;padding:0in 0in 0in 0in'><p class=MsoNormal> <o:p></o:p></p></td></tr></table></td></tr><tr><td style='background:white;padding:0in 0in 0in 0in'><p class=MsoNormal><img border=0 width=650 height=17 id="_x0000_i1034" src="cid:part6.03080500.00000301@afrinic.net"><o:p></o:p></p></td></tr><tr><td style='background:white;padding:0in 0in 0in 0in'><table class=MsoNormalTable border=0 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 width=650 style='width:487.5pt'><tr><td width=25 style='width:18.75pt;padding:0in 0in 0in 0in'><p class=MsoNormal> <o:p></o:p></p></td><td width=600 style='width:6.25in;padding:0in 0in 0in 0in'><table class=MsoNormalTable border=0 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 width=600 style='width:6.25in'><tr style='height:1.25in'><td width=287 valign=top style='width:215.25pt;padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;height:1.25in'><p class=MsoNormal><img border=0 width=287 height=130 id="_x0000_i1035" src="cid:part11.02030304.04000307@afrinic.net"><o:p></o:p></p></td><td width=26 style='width:19.5pt;padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;height:1.25in'><p class=MsoNormal> <o:p></o:p></p></td><td width=287 valign=top style='width:215.25pt;padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;height:1.25in'><p class=MsoNormal><img border=0 width=287 height=130 id="_x0000_i1036" src="cid:part12.00040402.04060605@afrinic.net"><o:p></o:p></p></td></tr></table><p class=MsoNormal><span style='display:none'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><table class=MsoNormalTable border=0 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 width=600 style='width:6.25in'><tr style='height:45.0pt'><td width=287 valign=top style='width:215.25pt;padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;height:45.0pt'><p><strong><span style='font-size:7.5pt;color:#333333'>Make your vote count</span></strong><o:p></o:p></p><p><span style='font-size:7.5pt;color:#333333'>AFRINIC is filling several positions. There will be elections for Board members to represent Eastern, and Southern Africa regions. The Co-Chair of the Policy Development Working Group will also be elected.</span><o:p></o:p></p></td><td width=26 style='width:19.5pt;padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;height:45.0pt'><p class=MsoNormal> <o:p></o:p></p></td><td width=287 valign=top style='width:215.25pt;padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;height:45.0pt'><p><strong><span style='font-size:7.5pt;color:#333333'>The curtain closes ...</span></strong><o:p></o:p></p><p><span style='font-size:7.5pt;color:#333333'>AFRINIC 16 officially comes to an end tomorrow. After numerous training sessions, policy deliberations and presentations among other activities, the curtain closes until our next meeting in Khartoum, Sudan</span><span style='color:#333333'>.</span><o:p></o:p></p></td></tr></table></td><td width=25 style='width:18.75pt;padding:0in 0in 0in 0in'><p class=MsoNormal> <o:p></o:p></p></td></tr></table></td></tr><tr><td style='background:white;padding:0in 0in 0in 0in'><p class=MsoNormal> <o:p></o:p></p></td></tr><tr><td style='padding:0in 0in 0in 0in'><p class=MsoNormal><a href="http://meeting.afrinic.net/afrinic-16"><span style='text-decoration:none'><img border=0 width=650 height=159 id="_x0000_i1037" src="cid:part13.00060704.05040300@afrinic.net"></span></a><o:p></o:p></p></td></tr><tr><td style='padding:0in 0in 0in 0in'><p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'><a href="http://www.flickr.com/afrinic">www.flickr.com/afrinic</a> | <a href="http://www.twitter.com/afrinic16">www.twitter.com/afrinic16</a> | <a href="http://www.twitter.com/afrinic">www.twitter.com/afrinic</a><br><a href="http://www.youtube.com/afrinicmedia">www.youtube.com/afrinicmedia</a> | <a href="http://www.afrinic.net">www.afrinic.net</a><o:p></o:p></p></td></tr><tr><td style='padding:0in 0in 0in 0in'><p class=MsoNormal> <o:p></o:p></p></td></tr></table></div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:windowtext'><o:p> </o:p></span></p></div></body></html>