[rpd] [Board-Discuss] Call for Action: Modernizing the AFRINIC Policy Manual

Fri Oct 10 09:17:34 UTC 2025

Hi Jacob,

Thank you reiterated what I mentioned in my email.

Cheers,

---
Raymond Mamattah
Accra, Ghana 🇬🇭

On Fri, 10 Oct 2025, 09:12 Jaco Kroon, <jaco at uls.co.za> wrote:

> Hi Raymond,
>
> Jordi is right in that once policies have been passed to the board it's
> not really trivial for them to push it back to the PDP, and Jordi is also
> right in that "what gives them the right?" (which is what I paraphrased
> from his writing).  That's a very valid question.
>
> I would personally rather have the board be on the side of caution, and
> send everything back to the chairs to revalidate, as new inputs from the
> last couple of years may very well result in a different impact assessment.
>
> I do also think that going forward we need to have a legal assessment on
> all new policies too - even if (in my made up estimation) the far bulk of
> policies will not have legal implications, however, contracts may be
> impacted by policies.  Specifically, some of the sticky points that came up
> in discussion:
>
> 1.  Can rule/policy changes be enforced retroactively?
> 2.  If a contract specifically states you're allowed to do xyz, does that
> preclude everything else, or is only what is specifically precluded
> contractually precluded?
>
> To make this even more sticky, let's say that a new policy takes away a
> right you previously had (implied or otherwise, for example, the topic of
> whether you're allowed to lease/sell/broker Afrinic IPv4 space, which is
> hotly debated with some saying you're allowed to and some saying you're not
> - I have my opinions on this but that's orthogonal to discussion I'm trying
> to have so please treat it as an example and not the topic), is that
> enforceable?
>
> What if a new policy/rule gives you a new right you didn't have previously?
>
> Clearly there are potentially legal implications here that can (and
> plainly has) negatively impacted the company (Afrinic).  And hopefully it's
> clear that the answers are not clear cut black and white, even though we'd
> like them to be.
>
> I think given the above a pause is in order to allow a re-assessment of
> all policies that has been submitted to board for ratification.
>
> I would also like to know if there is a list of such policies, and where
> it can be found, or if one of the staff members are possibly in a position
> to provide such a list, along with the wording impact on the CPM and the
> impact assessments that were provided.
>
> This should allow the PDWG to quickly state "we're OK with these
> proceeding, we'd like these back" etc ... assuming no one points out a
> policy issue with what I'm proposing.
>
> Kind regards,
> Jaco
> On 2025/10/10 10:43, Raymond Mamattah wrote:
>
> Great discussions!
>
> My one cent is that due to the impasse we have had, which is due partly to
> AFRINIC's own by-laws/policies, I think the Board would have to look
> critically and with multiple checks before ratifying any policy.
>
> I also think we should not push for a policy that's not already passed to
> be hurriedly ratified. Ideally such policies should go through "public
> comments" for critical checks before being passed on for ratification.
>
> Care must be taken so we don't have a "stone-around our neck to make us
> easily sink" again.
>
> Regards,
>
> ---
> Raymond Mamattah
> Accra, Ghana 🇬🇭
>
> On Fri, 10 Oct 2025, 08:10 Jaco Kroon, <jaco at uls.co.za> wrote:
>
>> Hi Jordi,
>>
>> I fully agree with what you say here.
>>
>> There are however pending disputes regarding legitimacy of a couple of
>> members who could use the specific policy to sidestep the issue.  The
>> policy needs to be adjusted to ensure that only members who's not only in
>> good standing, but who is fully compliant with existing policies and where
>> there are no ongoing disputes/court cases etc ... are allowed to transfer
>> out.
>>
>> Kind regards,
>> Jaco
>> On 2025/10/09 17:10, jordi.palet--- via RPD wrote:
>>
>> I don’t think membership status has anything to do with PDP.
>>
>> Ideally PDP is contributed by many members actively participating, but I
>> think this is not the case (not only in Afrinic, also in general in other
>> RIRs).
>>
>> Even if I personally disagree with the transfer policy that got consensus
>> declared, I think it should be ratified immediately, because implementation
>> takes many months (as experienced by other RIRs). In that period, we still
>> have the chance to improve it, if the community believe that needs to be
>> done. Then small implementation changes can often be done very quickly.
>>
>> This is the same for any policy that reached consensus, even for the
>> complete policy manual. It is a “live law”, the community has the chance
>> to*always* change or improve things. What it will be useless and long time
>> consuming is when something that reached consensus (and had a positive
>> impact analisys) is returned to the list to re-start again the full
>> process. Again, if something can be improved, let’s do it based on the
>> already approved text, not from scracth.
>>
>> Regards,
>> Jordi
>>
>> @jordipalet
>>
>>
>> El 9 oct 2025, a las 6:42, Jaco Kroon <jaco at uls.co.za> <jaco at uls.co.za>
>> escribió:
>>
>> Hi,
>>
>> That policy specifically may be one we may want to hold off until current
>> membership status has been sorted out first.  Or at least the policy should
>> be amended to compensate for what we've learned in the last five years.
>>
>> Kind regards,
>> Jaco
>>
>> On 2025/10/09 02:21, Emmanuel Vitus wrote:
>>
>> Good to see the list active again. Hopefully we can keep the energy
>> focused this time and not fall back into the long circular debates we had
>> in the past.
>> It could help to have a simple matrix showing which proposals can be
>> ratified quickly with little or no cost and which ones may need more time
>> or legal review. A timeline would also be useful to follow progress taking
>> into account the Board comments and the steps before ratification.
>> The transfer policy should move forward as soon as possible, my 2cents.
>> Cheers!
>>
>> - Emmanuel
>>
>> Le jeu. 9 oct. 2025 à 00:18, jordi.palet--- via RPD <rpd at afrinic.net> a
>> écrit :
>>
>>> Hi Caleb,
>>>
>>> The proposals that I refer:
>>> 1) Already reached consensus.
>>> 2) Already were sent to the board with the relevant reports.
>>>
>>> So from that perspective, with “basically administrative” I mean that
>>> there is not “a lot of other” work to be done in the proposals. Of course,
>>> the board should make sure that the proposals aren’t against the company,
>>> but the legal implications, operational feasibility, alignment with the
>>> bylaws, etc., was already done because all this is part of the analysis
>>> impact that was prepared *before* declaring consensus. This is just the way
>>> the PDP works, so we aren’t changing anything.
>>>
>>> Saludos,
>>> Jordi
>>>
>>> @jordipalet
>>>
>>>
>>> El 8 oct 2025, a las 18:07, Caleb Ogundele <muyiwacaleb at gmail.com>
>>> escribió:
>>>
>>> Hi Jordi and All,
>>>
>>> I'm happy this list is becoming more active, and it is a good thing.
>>> Responding to @Jordi, I must respectfully differ with Jordi on point
>>> one. While I share the desire to see pending proposals move forward, I
>>> don't believe board ratification should be characterized as "basically an
>>> administrative task that should not take too much time."
>>>
>>> Board ratification is a critical governance checkpoint where proposals
>>> are reviewed for legal implications, operational feasibility, and alignment
>>> with AFRINIC's mission and bylaws. Given that we're emerging from three
>>> years of limited functionality as a community, I believe the Community and
>>> the Board deserve adequate time to properly review and ratify proposals,
>>> especially those that may have significant operational or financial
>>> implications for AFRINIC and its members. Times have changed in the last
>>> three years and community members have different views on certain policies.
>>> Rushing this process could lead to oversights that create problems down the
>>> line. Quality should take precedence over speed.
>>> *Caleb Ogundele*
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> *Speaking for myself as a community member *
>>>
>>> On Wed, Oct 8, 2025 at 6:34 PM jordi.palet--- via RPD <rpd at afrinic.net>
>>> wrote:
>>>
>>>> HI Seun, all,
>>>>
>>>> Fully agree with your view. I will add 2 more points:
>>>>
>>>> 1) There are several policy proposals that reached consensus and are
>>>> “paused” just waiting for the board ratification. I understand the board
>>>> will be very busy, but the ratification is basically an administrative task
>>>> that should not take too much time. So please, consider doing so ASAP, so
>>>> the implementation can also be initiated, as I think in some cases it may
>>>> take long time.
>>>>
>>>>
>>> 2) Some of use may need to plan ahead, and buy our flights as early as
>>>> possible (too close to the meeting become extremely expensive when
>>>> traveling from abroad) for the next PPM, so it will be good to announce
>>>> firm dates and location as soon as possible.
>>>>
>>>> Those that have policy proposals still under discussion really need to
>>>> have a status summary and specially understand if the actual co-chairs will
>>>> continue as suggested, so we can restart our work and encourage discussions
>>>> in the community.
>>>>
>>>> Finally, I don’t think we need a “complete modernization of the policy
>>>> manual”, but instead concentrate in review the existing discussion and
>>>> decide if we need to focus on any new topic at the time being.
>>>>
>>>> Tks!
>>>>
>>>> Saludos,
>>>> Jordi
>>>>
>>>> @jordipalet
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> El 8 oct 2025, a las 17:02, Seun Ojedeji <seun.ojedeji at gmail.com>
>>>> escribió:
>>>>
>>>> Hello Ben, RPD
>>>>
>>>> It's good that this discussion is starting up. I don't think anything
>>>> revolutionary with the rpd needs to happen from the board level at this
>>>> time. The rpd itself should evolve through policies and while the board
>>>> indeed has the ability to write a policy when required and in
>>>> certain circumstances i do think that it isn't necessary at this time. I
>>>> would suggest the following:
>>>>
>>>> 1. Current Co-Chairs continue in their role towards the next Public
>>>> Policy Meeting (PPM) and they should coordinate on the things Sami
>>>> mentioned with regards to authors representing their proposal and new
>>>> proposals as applicable.
>>>>
>>>> 2. We usually hold 2 PPMs every year 1 during the AIS and another at
>>>> the second AFRINIC pubic meeting in the year, it will be good for the Board
>>>> to provide the rpd with some information on how soon that can happen.
>>>>
>>>> 3. With the recent board election, staff does have significant
>>>> experience on conducting credible and verifiable election. The Board should
>>>> leverage on that to organise election of Co-Chairs at the next ppm inline
>>>> with the CPM. The 2 seats should be filled in a staggered manner
>>>>
>>>> Regards
>>>>
>>>> ----
>>>> Sent from my mobile
>>>> kindly excuse typos
>>>>
>>>> On Wed, 8 Oct 2025, 6:00 pm Ben Roberts - AfriNIC via RPD, <
>>>> rpd at afrinic.net> wrote:
>>>>
>>>>> Sami,
>>>>> Thanks for your mail and we appreciate your contributions to PWDG to
>>>>> date and are happy to see you are keen to start it up again. I am replying
>>>>> as a community member, though I am also a board member of AfriNIC.
>>>>>
>>>>> I feel that as we restart the PWDG process, what is absolutely key is
>>>>> that we get *much more* diversity in that process. My question back
>>>>> to you is to ask, how do we invigorate the process to involve many more key
>>>>> experts in the digital economy of Africa?
>>>>>
>>>>> Kind regards
>>>>> Ben
>>>>>
>>>>> Sent from my iPhone
>>>>>
>>>>> On 6 Oct 2025, at 08:08, Sami Salih via Board <board at afrinic.net>
>>>>> wrote:
>>>>>
>>>>> 
>>>>> *Dear PDWG Community,*
>>>>>
>>>>> I hope this message finds you well.
>>>>>
>>>>> I would like to take this opportunity to congratulate you all on the
>>>>> successful election of the AFRINIC Board and the resumption of its proper
>>>>> functioning. This milestone marks an important step toward restoring
>>>>> stability, trust, and continuity in AFRINIC’s role as the Regional Internet
>>>>> Registry for Africa. With governance now back on track, it is the right
>>>>> moment to resume the Policy Development Process (PDP) and address the
>>>>> policy gaps that have accumulated during the past three years of
>>>>> interruption.
>>>>>
>>>>> As you are aware, over the past three years AFRINIC has gone through a
>>>>> period of limited functionality, and the Policy Development Process (PDP)
>>>>> has been effectively paused. During this time, the global Internet number
>>>>> community has continued to evolve, with significant policy updates taking
>>>>> place across the other RIRs. This has created a widening gap between
>>>>> AFRINIC’s Consolidated Policy Manual (CPM) and those of our sister RIRs.
>>>>>
>>>>> In order to restore the momentum of policy development in our region
>>>>> and to ensure that AFRINIC’s policy environment remains relevant,
>>>>> consistent, and globally aligned, I would like to highlight the following
>>>>> areas where action is needed:
>>>>>
>>>>> *Previous PDWG Co-Chairs*
>>>>> While their terms have now ended, we request that the most recent PDWG
>>>>> Co-Chairs prepare a short report summarizing the last set of policy
>>>>> proposals that were under discussion before the process stalled. We further
>>>>> encourage the original authors of those drafts to resubmit them for renewed
>>>>> community review, or alternatively, invite any community member to take
>>>>> initiative to re-submit and champion them.
>>>>>
>>>>> *AFRINIC Board*
>>>>> We call on the Board to formally publish a community call for
>>>>> modernizing the AFRINIC Policy Manual. This would include identifying and
>>>>> prioritizing areas where policy alignment with other RIRs is needed (e.g.,
>>>>> IPv4 transfer frameworks, IPv6 allocation criteria, RPKI adoption,
>>>>> Whois/privacy reforms, and membership/resource governance models). Such a
>>>>> call would help set a clear direction and provide legitimacy to the process
>>>>> of catching up with global best practices.
>>>>>
>>>>> *PDWG Community*
>>>>> Most importantly, we urge all community members to actively re-engage
>>>>> in the PDP by discussing any submitted proposals, providing constructive
>>>>> feedback, and enriching the drafts with insights drawn from operational
>>>>> experience. The strength of AFRINIC’s PDP has always been rooted in the
>>>>> diversity and expertise of its community, and your participation will be
>>>>> crucial in shaping the future of Internet number resource management in our
>>>>> region.
>>>>>
>>>>> This is a collective responsibility, and now is the right moment to
>>>>> re-energize our PDP and demonstrate the resilience of the AFRINIC community.
>>>>>
>>>>> With Regards.
>>>>>
>>>>> *Sami Salih*, PhD (ICT), PMP®
>>>>> Assistant Professor, Sudan University of Science and Technology
>>>>> Tel: (249) 122045707
>>>>> _______________________________________________
>>>>> Board mailing list -- board at afrinic.net
>>>>> To unsubscribe send an email to board-leave at afrinic.net
>>>>>
>>>>> _______________________________________________
>>>>> RPD mailing list
>>>>> RPD at afrinic.net
>>>>> https://lists.afrinic.net/mailman/listinfo/rpd
>>>>>
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>>>>
>>>>
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>>>
>>>
>>> --
>>> *Caleb Ogundele*
>>> Email: muyiwacaleb at gmail.com
>>>
>>>
>>>
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>>
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>>
>>
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>> IPv4 is over
>> Are you ready for the new Internet ?
>> http://www.theipv6company.com
>> The IPv6 Company
>>
>> This electronic message contains information which may be privileged or
>> confidential. The information is intended to be for the exclusive use of
>> the individual(s) named above and further non-explicilty authorized
>> disclosure, copying, distribution or use of the contents of this
>> information, even if partially, including attached files, is strictly
>> prohibited and will be considered a criminal offense. If you are not the
>> intended recipient be aware that any disclosure, copying, distribution or
>> use of the contents of this information, even if partially, including
>> attached files, is strictly prohibited, will be considered a criminal
>> offense, so you must reply to the original sender to inform about this
>> communication and delete it.
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