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==History on NO Campaigns==

==History on NO Campaigns==

The No campaigns were first used by the organization to raise awareness to misleading information pertaining to the process of obtaining the first ever African top level domain. ‘No Campaign’, is an obverse to the “Yes2dotAfrica Campaign”. DCA’s involvement in the ‘No Campaigns’ as follows: When DotConnectAfrica started the .africa journey they did not foresee the adverse effect on their yesto dotafrica campaign work by detractors who, if left unchecked would torpedo the DotAfrica dream. [[File:Say_No_to_the_.africa_CABAL.jpg|450px|thumb|right|Say "No" to the DotAfrica CABAL:06 September 2011|link=http://archive.constantcontact.com/fs053/1102516344150/archive/1107431408048.html]]

The No campaigns were first used by the organization to raise awareness to misleading information pertaining to the process of obtaining the first ever African top level domain. ‘No Campaign’, is an obverse to the “Yes2dotAfrica Campaign”. DCA’s involvement in the ‘No Campaigns’ as follows: When DotConnectAfrica started the .africa journey they did not foresee the adverse effect on their yesto dotafrica campaign work by detractors who, if left unchecked would torpedo the DotAfrica dream. [[File:Say_No_to_the_.africa_CABAL.jpg|450px|thumb|right|<div align="center">Say "No" to the DotAfrica CABAL:06 September 2011</div>|link=http://archive.constantcontact.com/fs053/1102516344150/archive/1107431408048.html]]

This was evident after they had won the pivotal AU endorsement, the willful sabotage of these efforts foisted an ‘underground cold war’ of attrition on DCA, thus forcing DCA to fight in self-defense and respond to issues where it is either a named party or as a sidelined interlocutor. The issues included but not limited to misrepresentation of DCA’s mission and purpose, its principals and stakeholder communities, misinformation to the public on the implementation of DotAfrica and its merit, and efforts to counter mass media manipulation.

This was evident after they had won the pivotal AU endorsement, the willful sabotage of these efforts foisted an ‘underground cold war’ of attrition on DCA, thus forcing DCA to fight in self-defense and respond to issues where it is either a named party or as a sidelined interlocutor. The issues included but not limited to misrepresentation of DCA’s mission and purpose, its principals and stakeholder communities, misinformation to the public on the implementation of DotAfrica and its merit, and efforts to counter mass media manipulation.

=== Say "NO" to the ARC-African Registry: The Leopard Cannot Change its Spots===

=== Say "NO" to the ARC-African Registry: The Leopard Cannot Change its Spots===

DCA started this awareness about the African Union introduction of an Expression of Interest to run .africa. The Communiqué was issued to clarify its position on DotAfrica stated that it will float an Expression of Interest process to short-list bidders to be endorsed for DotAfrica, and as of Week 20 of 2011 . This was regarded an unnecessary effort and also it was evident that the EOI process had been  discredited, and considered a step to officially hijack the DotAfrica Initiative using supposititious African Union official machinery also termed 'AU-led'-process, to favour AfTLD. <ref>[http://archive.constantcontact.com/fs053/1102516344150/archive/1106696043739.html  The Leopard Cannot Change its Spots: Say "No" to the ARC-African Registry  ]</ref>

DCA started this awareness about the African Union introduction of an Expression of Interest to run .africa. The Communiqué was issued to clarify its position on DotAfrica stated that it will float an Expression of Interest process to short-list bidders to be endorsed for DotAfrica, and as of Week 20 of 2011 . This was regarded an unnecessary effort and also it was evident that the EOI process had been  discredited, and considered a step to officially hijack the DotAfrica Initiative using supposititious African Union official machinery also termed 'AU-led'-process, to favour AfTLD. <ref>[http://archive.constantcontact.com/fs053/1102516344150/archive/1106696043739.html  The Leopard Cannot Change its Spots: Say "No" to the ARC-African Registry  ]</ref>

[[File:The_Dakar_Africa_Agenda_Masquerade.jpg|frame|   The Dakar “Africa Agenda” Masquerade:ICANN 42 October 11, 2011|link=http://archive.constantcontact.com/fs053/1102516344150/archive/1108039247315.html]]

[[File:The_Dakar_Africa_Agenda_Masquerade.jpg|frame|<div align="center">The Dakar “Africa Agenda” Masquerade,ICANN 42: October 11, 2011</div>|link=http://archive.constantcontact.com/fs053/1102516344150/archive/1108039247315.html]]

=== Say "NO" to the CABAL (special-interest coalitions) that is trying to hijack DotAfrica! ===

=== Say "NO" to the CABAL (special-interest coalitions) that is trying to hijack DotAfrica! ===

   

   

The rejoinder also clarified that in the final analysis, ICANN, and not the AU has the pertinent rights over the DotAfrica gTLD <ref>[http://archive.constantcontact.com/fs053/1102516344150/archive/1110608545772.html REJOINDER: DCA believes only ICANN should decide on DotAfrica]</ref>

The rejoinder also clarified that in the final analysis, ICANN, and not the AU has the pertinent rights over the DotAfrica gTLD <ref>[http://archive.constantcontact.com/fs053/1102516344150/archive/1110608545772.html REJOINDER: DCA believes only ICANN should decide on DotAfrica]</ref>

(4) On Financial Capability DCA said that ZACR provided an Understated Registry COI Amount (comment whi was therefore “Not Enough for Critical Registry Function” as required before managing a top level domain registry. DCA Also complained on the Unit Selling Price of Domain Names which was higher and not consistent. And finally a Possible Conflict in Business Model used by ZACR in proposing the .africa registry.

(4) On Financial Capability DCA said that ZACR provided an Understated Registry COI Amount (comment whi was therefore “Not Enough for Critical Registry Function” as required before managing a top level domain registry. DCA Also complained on the Unit Selling Price of Domain Names which was higher and not consistent. And finally a Possible Conflict in Business Model used by ZACR in proposing the .africa registry.

[[File:Dotafrica_africa_union_uniforum.PNG|500px|thumb|left|African Union & UNIFORUM SA should beware, Pride goeth before a fall:05 March 2012|link=http://archive.constantcontact.com/fs053/1102516344150/archive/1109846725800.html]]

[[File:Dotafrica_africa_union_uniforum.PNG|500px|thumb|left|<div align="center">African Union & UNIFORUM SA should beware, Pride goeth before a fall: 05 March 2012</div>|link=http://archive.constantcontact.com/fs053/1102516344150/archive/1109846725800.html]]

====DCA Press Briefing: African Union & UNIFORUM SA should beware, Pride goeth before a fall. ====

====DCA Press Briefing: African Union & UNIFORUM SA should beware, Pride goeth before a fall. ====

DotConnectAfrica wrote the commentary as a informative analysis of the .Africa application controversies and press reports saying that they were quite misleading since a firm cannot be selected to administer a domain that has not yet been delegated. They also clarified the very impossibility of the African Union mainstreaming itself strategically within a particular proposal in a policy-oversight role whilst also playing the tactical role of a 'self-endorsing' entity in order to singularly control the fate of DotAfrica. The commentary stated that only ICANN can delegate a domain, they also challenged the African Union to act immediately in the greater interest of global public transparency and accountability, to release forthwith, the details of the EOI process and the RFP.<ref>[http://archive.constantcontact.com/fs053/1102516344150/archive/1109846725800.html DCA Press Briefing :African Union & UNIFORUM SA should beware, Pride goeth before a fall]</ref>

DotConnectAfrica wrote the commentary as a informative analysis of the .Africa application controversies and press reports saying that they were quite misleading since a firm cannot be selected to administer a domain that has not yet been delegated. They also clarified the very impossibility of the African Union mainstreaming itself strategically within a particular proposal in a policy-oversight role whilst also playing the tactical role of a 'self-endorsing' entity in order to singularly control the fate of DotAfrica. The commentary stated that only ICANN can delegate a domain, they also challenged the African Union to act immediately in the greater interest of global public transparency and accountability, to release forthwith, the details of the EOI process and the RFP.<ref>[http://archive.constantcontact.com/fs053/1102516344150/archive/1109846725800.html DCA Press Briefing :African Union & UNIFORUM SA should beware, Pride goeth before a fall]</ref>

DCA Also wrote this commentary noting that article should have amplified more, the genuine concerns that DCA has raised repeatedly concerning possible irregularities, conflict of interests, willful sabotage and unfair play and other large-scale illegalities that may have been committed. .<ref>[http://archive.constantcontact.com/fs053/1102516344150/archive/1105712464474.html DCA Commentary: ComputerWorld: AU requests proposals for .africa Registry]</ref>

DCA Also wrote this commentary noting that article should have amplified more, the genuine concerns that DCA has raised repeatedly concerning possible irregularities, conflict of interests, willful sabotage and unfair play and other large-scale illegalities that may have been committed. .<ref>[http://archive.constantcontact.com/fs053/1102516344150/archive/1105712464474.html DCA Commentary: ComputerWorld: AU requests proposals for .africa Registry]</ref>

====DCA Commentary: AU "Briefing Note on DotAfrica"====

====DCA Commentary: "DCA Response to" AU "Briefing Note on DotAfrica"====

DCA used this commentary to set the records straight and debunk some of their untruthful claims, whilst exposing their lack of proper knowledge regarding how the ICANN process works.[[File:Confusion_dotafrica.jpg|550px|thumb|left|Say "No" to the DotAfrica CABAL:06 September 2011|link=http://archive.constantcontact.com/fs053/1102516344150/archive/1107431408048.html]]

DCA used this commentary to set the records straight and debunk some of their untruthful claims, whilst exposing their lack of proper knowledge regarding how the ICANN process works.[[File:Confusion_dotafrica.jpg|550px|thumb|left|<div align="center">Say "No" to the DotAfrica CABAL:06 September 2011</div>|link=http://archive.constantcontact.com/fs053/1102516344150/archive/1107431408048.html]]

DCA used this opportunity to set the records straight and debunk some of their untruthful claims, and also exposing the African Unions lack of proper knowledge regarding how the ICANN process works: The Response noted that "It is clear that the extraordinary process instituted by the AU Commission more or less usurps ICANN's bidding process at the international level and could be interpreted as an attempt to blacklist the rest of the competition to the extent that it (the self-endorsing AU) wants to apply directly to ICANN and also choose the registry operator. Whereas the open international competitive bidding process regarding the DotAfrica gTLD is owned by ICANN, it is obvious that the AU now intends to take-over the entire process as a sort of supranational telecommunications regulator and Internet governance body for Africa.  Perhaps the African Union might as well own and operate Air Afrique and become a participant in the airline business sector as well, since 'Afrique' refers to a named geography like DotAfrica."  <ref>[http://archive.constantcontact.com/fs053/1102516344150/archive/1105700646250.html  DCA Commentary on AU "Briefing Note on DotAfrica" ]</ref>

DCA used this opportunity to set the records straight and debunk some of their untruthful claims, and also exposing the African Unions lack of proper knowledge regarding how the ICANN process works: The Response noted that "It is clear that the extraordinary process instituted by the AU Commission more or less usurps ICANN's bidding process at the international level and could be interpreted as an attempt to blacklist the rest of the competition to the extent that it (the self-endorsing AU) wants to apply directly to ICANN and also choose the registry operator. Whereas the open international competitive bidding process regarding the DotAfrica gTLD is owned by ICANN, it is obvious that the AU now intends to take-over the entire process as a sort of supranational telecommunications regulator and Internet governance body for Africa.  Perhaps the African Union might as well own and operate Air Afrique and become a participant in the airline business sector as well, since 'Afrique' refers to a named geography like DotAfrica."  <ref>[http://archive.constantcontact.com/fs053/1102516344150/archive/1105700646250.html  DCA Commentary on AU "Briefing Note on DotAfrica" ]</ref>

====DCA Commentary: Response to the AU Commission Communiqué on DotAfrica====

====DCA Commentary:"DCA" Response to the AU Commission Communiqué on DotAfrica====

As a party that was specifically named in the said Communiqué, since its provenance is unknown, DCA feels compelled to exercise its right to reply, and also issue a clarification of its own. Moreover, the Communiqué is unsigned and no one really knows what process led to its release on the AU Web Site.  

As a party that was specifically named in the said Communiqué, since its provenance is unknown, DCA feels compelled to exercise its right to reply, and also issue a clarification of its own. Moreover, the Communiqué is unsigned and no one really knows what process led to its release on the AU Web Site.  

*November 10 2012- Goodbye .DOTAFRICA: A Landmark Victory for DotConnectAfrica <ref>[http://domainnewsafrica.com/goodbye-dotafrica-a-landmark-victory-for-dotconnectafrica/ Goodbye .DOTAFRICA: A Landmark Victory for DotConnectAfrica]</ref>

*November 10 2012- Goodbye .DOTAFRICA: A Landmark Victory for DotConnectAfrica <ref>[http://domainnewsafrica.com/goodbye-dotafrica-a-landmark-victory-for-dotconnectafrica/ Goodbye .DOTAFRICA: A Landmark Victory for DotConnectAfrica]</ref>

== Live Media coverage==

== Live Media coverage==

Senegal TV Channel covering DCA's complaints during Dakar Ministerial Roundtable. The video was produced at the [[ICANN 42]] in June, 2012, in Senegal Dakar.

Senegal TV Channel covering DCA's complaints during Dakar Ministerial Roundtable. The video was produced at the [[ICANN 42]] in June, 2012, in Senegal Dakar.