[rpd] AFRINIC-38 Public Policy Meeting-Cape Town, South Africa, 18 November 2026

[Andrew Alston]

Just to add to this,

It would be remiss of me to not point out that there were a flood of
complaints and concerns about the IETF holding a meeting in the U.S. under
the current political climate, and the fact that it was excluding a large
segment of regular participants.  I fully understand why the IETF could not
move the meeting (as they did during trumps first term with the travel
bans) - but it’s hardly fair to complain that AfriNIC does not move a
meeting to fall in line with IETF scheduling when such concerns have gone
unaddressed.  I also believe that it’s high time the IETF hosted a meeting
in Africa - which has also never happened.

There needs to be support for Africa from the IETF as much as their needs
to be support for the IETF from African institutions - it goes both ways,
and right now it’s extremely one sided.

So now we are in a situation where the IETF is holding a meeting in a
location that is extremely hostile to so many groups of people - and at the
same time asking those same people to accommodate their scheduling. Doesn’t
work that way

Andrew

On Fri, Aug 28, 2026 at 15:45, Andrew Alston <aa at alstonnetworks.net> wrote:

> Actually I care very much - but I am also aware that the dates of this PDP
> meeting coincide with other major tech events that are held in Cape Town -
> and as a result the dates set will maximize attendence at AfriNIC amongst
> African attendees because of those dates.
>
> If we have to balance that with the fact that African participation in the
> ietf is sadly abysmal - it’s in my view more important from an African
> perspective to hold a meeting that maximises African participation - which
> this does.
>
> Andrew
>
> On Fri, Aug 28, 2026 at 15:40, jordi.palet--- via RPD <rpd at afrinic.net>
> wrote:
>
>> Hi Andrew,
>>
>> The community is not only from Africa, we must not forget that. And also
>> you can always participate remotely. But this is not the point, the point
>> is the respect to the rules that we had for many years among all the RIRs,
>> IETF, etc. It shows you don’t care about people contributing, as said in my
>> previous email.
>>
>> Regard,
>> Jordi
>>
>> @jordipalet
>>
>> El 28 ago 2026, a las 16:00, Andrew Alston <aa at alstonnetworks.net>
>> escribió:
>>
>> Hi Jordi,
>>
>> While I would normally agree with this 100%, considering the clash is
>> with the San Francisco meeting - which many people in Africa will not be
>> able to attend due to massive problems getting US visas at the moment
>> (Multi-month wait times just to get an appointment for a tourist visa and
>> huge deposits, etc.)—I see it as less of a problem than if this were an
>> IETF meeting held elsewhere.
>>
>> Andrew
>>
>>
>> On Fri, Aug 28, 2026 at 1:57 PM jordi.palet--- via RPD <rpd at afrinic.net>
>> wrote:
>>
>>> Hi all,
>>>
>>> There is an agreement among all the RIRs, IETF, ICANN, ISOC, etc. to
>>> avoid clashes in their meetings.
>>>
>>> This is being organized the SAME week as the IETF in San Francisco. This
>>> was fixed many years ago.
>>>
>>> Clearly the AFRINIC MUST change the dates for this meeting.
>>>
>>> Regards,
>>> Jordi
>>>
>>> @jordipalet
>>>
>>> El 28 ago 2026, a las 13:51, AFRINIC Communication via RPD <
>>> rpd at afrinic.net> escribió:
>>>
>>> [Version en français au bas]
>>>
>>> Dear Colleagues,
>>>
>>> We are pleased to announce that the AFRINIC-38 Public Policy Meeting
>>> (PPM) will be held on Wednesday, 18 November 2026, in Cape Town, South
>>> Africa.
>>>
>>> AFRINIC-38 will be held in a hybrid format, enabling participants from
>>> across Africa and around the world to discuss and review Internet number
>>> resource policies that guide the management and distribution of Internet
>>> number resources within the AFRINIC service region.
>>>
>>> Your participation is important, as the outcomes of these discussions
>>> contribute to shaping policies that affect the Internet ecosystem,
>>> businesses, and digital development across Africa. We therefore encourage
>>> AFRINIC members and the wider Internet community to participate, share
>>> their perspectives, and contribute to an open and inclusive Policy
>>> Development Process.
>>>
>>> Further details, including the programme, registration process, venue,
>>> and participation arrangements, will be communicated in due course.
>>>
>>> We look forward to welcoming you to AFRINIC-38 in Cape Town.
>>>
>>> Kind Regards,
>>>
>>> AFRINIC Communication
>>>
>>> ……………………………………
>>>
>>> Chers membres de la communauté,
>>>
>>> Nous avons le plaisir de vous annoncer que la Réunion de politique
>>> publique AFRINIC-38 (PPM) se tiendra le mercredi 18 novembre 2026 à Cape
>>> Town, en Afrique du Sud.
>>>
>>> AFRINIC-38 se déroulera en format hybride, permettant aux participants
>>> de toute l’Afrique et du reste du monde de discuter et d’examiner les
>>> politiques relatives aux ressources numériques Internet qui encadrent la
>>> gestion et la distribution de ces ressources dans la région de service
>>> d’AFRINIC.
>>>
>>> Votre participation est importante, car les resultats de ces discussions
>>> contribuent à façonner des politiques qui ont un impact sur l’écosystème
>>> Internet, les entreprises et le développement numérique en Afrique. Nous
>>> encourageons donc les membres d’AFRINIC ainsi que l’ensemble de la
>>> communauté Internet à participer, à partager leurs points de vue et à
>>> contribuer à un processus d’élaboration des politiques ouvert et inclusif.
>>>
>>> De plus amples informations, notamment sur le programme, les modalités
>>> d’inscription, le lieu et les conditions de participation, seront
>>> communiquées prochainement.
>>>
>>> Nous nous réjouissons de vous accueillir à AFRINIC-38 à Cape Town.
>>>
>>> Cordialement,
>>>
>>> Communication AFRINIC
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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
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