[rpd] Benjiro

Mon Dec 10 04:30:17 UTC 2018

Hello Andrew 

My time with both Afnog and AfriNIC confirm that sponsorships have been very instrumental in growing the active community of AfriNIC.  We cannot put our heads in the sand and suggest that there is no imbalance.    

From: Andrew Alston <Andrew.Alston at liquidtelecom.com>
Date: Sunday, December 9, 2018 at 1:33 PM
To: Boubakar Barry <boubakarbarry at gmail.com>, rpd <rpd at afrinic.net>
Subject: Re: [rpd] Benjiro

Boubakar,

Let me ask you a question - would it be acceptable if I announced I was providing sponsorship for participants but restricted it to white South Africans? Or if I I said I was providing sponsorship that was entirely limited to those who spoke kikuyu? Or any other limiting factor that was based entirely on linguistics or race or creed?

Actually Yes.  You are free to use your funds in any way you perceive is right as long as you also appreciate that your choices might attract either positive or negative reactions in the public arena. 

Would you not be screaming that the sponsorship of one particular demographic was wrong - was stacking the floor - was racist - was whatever?

No.  Intent is very important here.  If you are sponsoring people to help them learn and build the community that would be good.  But if you sponsor them to achieve an objective like we all suspected you did some years ago then that is another issue.  (Please note I used the word suspected as the board which you eventually judged to be not good enough for AfriNIC exonerated you. – A judgement we all respected).

What is the difference here - if we are a community and as one - why do accept that one group can sponsor people entirely limited to one group of people - while the Lazarus foundation is slammed for “stacking the floor”

This is what I do not understand and I am asking you as a serious question - should we - with the full involvement of afrinic - allow an organization to sponsor based on selective demographics?

The whole idea of sponsorships is usually to correct a perceived in balance that’s why we have always looked for Gender /women sponsorships.

For years different groups have focused on their area of interest or charitable groups can also focus on areas they perceive need help.

Obviously if they want to sponsor people - any organization can do that - and their beliefs and what they do is up to them - however - when an organization is funding and sponsoring without being fully inclusive - I have a problem with it being done in collaboration with afrinic - that is meant to be an inclusive non-partisan body without bias.

Andrew 

Liquid Telecommunications - Group Head Of IP Strategy

From: Boubakar Barry <boubakarbarry at gmail.com>
Sent: Sunday, December 9, 2018 10:57
To: rpd
Subject: Re: [rpd] Benjiro 

Dear Community,

Attacking so bluntly an organisation that has supported AfriNIC over decades is just unacceptable. 

I think OIF has done a lot for this community by providing resources that helped us improve and maintain diversity in participation. That’s commendable. 

We still have room for progress, but I think we are on the right path; I was delighted to see an announcement posted a couple of days ago with an Arabic version of it. Next steps would be to provide versions of the website in Arabic and Portuguese as well  and to have interpretation in these languages too in our meetings. That requires more resources for sure, but maybe organisations such as the Arab League could support.

It’s unfortunate that as we are making such progress for more inclusion, an organization is attacked in such way. This should be embarrassing for us as community and I think Board and Management who represent this community should distance themselves from this dangerous move that may affect AFRINIC. And invite initiators of such attacks to stop. This cannot be good for AFRINIC. 

BTW, it's intellectually dishonest to state that people who are sponsored by OIF defend interest of a demographic group only. I challenge anyone to prove this. To the best of my knowledge, the people targeted here have always acted in a way they think is best for AFRINIC and the community.

Finally, I hope I won’t be attacked myself for writing this and be tagged “OIF”. Anf for the record: the only time I was sponsored by OIF was in 1998, to attend the AIG meeting in Cotonou. 

Boubakar

On Sun, Dec 9, 2018 at 6:27 AM Andrew Alston <Andrew.Alston at liquidtelecom.com> wrote:

Let me be very clear – respect is earned – not bought, and gratitude?  Maybe those you funds owe you such – but I have found the actions of the OIF delegates to AFRINIC meetings to be nothing short of totally abhorrent – and there is certainly no gratitude or respect that shall be forthcoming for those actions.

When time after time it is the OIF delegates lining up to the microphone with slips of paper with pre-written objections to policies and when questioned showing no knowing of what they are saying – you get no respect for that.

The OIF’s website states:

IOF organises political activities and actions of multilateral cooperation that benefit French-speaking populations. Its actions respect cultural and linguistic diversity and serve to promote the French language, peace and sustainable development.

Firstly – I have seen NO respect from the OIF delegates for anything outside of their group.  Secondly – the African Continent is far from than just French – and I have a lot of good French friends – I have no problem with the French – I do have a problem with AFRINIC having an MoU with an organization that explicitly promotes the interests of one demographic.  In fact I question if this does not represent a very subtle form of internet colonialism.

So no – you will get no respect or gratitude for money – when the actions of the OIF and its delegates at AFRINIC promote unity rather than division – and do – as per the OIF’s website – respect that the continent is made up of a diverse population of English, French, Arabic, Portuguese, Swahili, and countless more – and the delegates are not banded together to reject anything and everything that is not of their making – then maybe – I will have some gratitutde.  But rest assured – my respect – is earned by PEOPLE who have shown their competence, irrespective of language, race, creed, religion, skin color or anything else – it is not earned by flying lots of people to meetings to push a specific linguistic agenda.

Andrew

From: Gregoire Ehoumi via RPD <rpd at afrinic.net>
Reply-To: Gregoire Ehoumi <gregoire.ehoumi at yahoo.fr>
Date: Saturday, 8 December 2018 at 19:06
To: Mark Elkins <mje at posix.co.za>, "rpd at afrinic.net" <rpd at afrinic.net>
Subject: Re: [rpd] Benjiro

Hello,

there seem to be some discussions about OIF role and activities around AFRINIC. OIF and AFRINIC has a long time relationship which it is worth showing people.

Before AFRINIC  accreditation :

http://docplayer.net/10409680-Afrinic-spearheading-africa-s-internet-since-2005-10-year-anniversary.html page 6

"2003
Adiel Akplogan, former President of Senegal and the OIF Abdou Diouf, and 
the French Ambassador to Mauritius sign an MoU on funding from the French 
Ministry for AfriNIC ' s capacity building efforts"

https://www.lexpress.mu/article/afrinic-assure-seul-la-gestion-des-adresses-africaines-du-net

Abdou Diouf, secrétaire général de l'OIF a  rendu visite au siège administratif AFRINIC. .....
Henri Vignal, ambassadeur de France, a offert, au nom du gouvernement français, 70 000 euros (environ Rs 2 380 000) à l'association pour aider à former des informaticiens africains......

More on AFRINIC  and OIF relationship on the Web. ..

OIF funds experts not only to AFRINIC meetings but also to IGF, ICANN etc

This community  owes OIF respect and gratitude.

Hope this helps

--Gregoire

------ Original message------

From: Mark Elkins

Date: Fri, Dec 7, 2018 1:35 PM

To: rpd at afrinic.net;

Cc: 

Subject:Re: [rpd] Benjiro

On 12/7/18 7:38 PM, Marcus K. G. Adomey wrote:

Dabu Sifiso,

Is it not true that Daniel brought those young girls and boys and we all saw what they come to do? Is it pinching you that Benjilo brought out what we all know?

Let me tell you that I am not a coward and I am not afraid of Daniel to tell him that he "recruited mercenaries" for Lu.

Keep well your fake evidence and spoof emails. 

Ha! - but that is exactly what happened in Dakar - and I was on the receiving end of it.

So now the shoe is on the other foot?

I've seen this time and time again - a group of OIF sponsored folk gathering around people such as Alain at the back of the meeting hall - chatting in whispers.

Actually - I would suspect that very few people at an AfriNIC meeting pay for themselves personally to go there (or even contribute themselves) - that is, out of their own personal pocket vs the Company paying. I've done that for the past two meetings I attended, Nairobi and Dakar. Its not easy.

Marcus

Get Outlook for Android

From: Dabu Sifiso <dabu.sifiso at yandex.com>
Sent: Friday, December 7, 2018 4:29:20 PM
To: madomey at hotmail.com
Subject: Benjiro 

Dear Marcus,

Rumor...well evidence collected has it you are Benjiro.
I wonder how the community will react.

Regards,
Dabu Sifiso

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