Changes

The African Union Commission issued a statement on May 12, 2011 retracting the statement of endorsement issued by Chairman Jean Ping to DCA. The AUC explained that during the Member States meeting, the African Union Ministers in-charge of the Communications and Information Technologies decided to allow competition among organizations interested to sponsor and operate the DotAfrica TLD. The AUC also clarified that it did not support nor endorse any individual or organization and announced that entities interested must submit their Expression of Interest (EOI), which will served as the Commission’s basis for endorsement and selection. <ref>[http://library.constantcontact.com/download/get/file/1102516344150107/Communique_Statement_by_AUC_on_Dot_Africa_May_10th__AO+MY_+BK_Comments%5b1%5d.pdf COMMUNIQUE: The Africa Union Commission Clarification on Dot Africa]</ref>  

The African Union Commission issued a statement on May 12, 2011 retracting the statement of endorsement issued by Chairman Jean Ping to DCA. The AUC explained that during the Member States meeting, the African Union Ministers in-charge of the Communications and Information Technologies decided to allow competition among organizations interested to sponsor and operate the DotAfrica TLD. The AUC also clarified that it did not support nor endorse any individual or organization and announced that entities interested must submit their Expression of Interest (EOI), which will served as the Commission’s basis for endorsement and selection. <ref>[http://library.constantcontact.com/download/get/file/1102516344150107/Communique_Statement_by_AUC_on_Dot_Africa_May_10th__AO+MY_+BK_Comments%5b1%5d.pdf COMMUNIQUE: The Africa Union Commission Clarification on Dot Africa]</ref>  

DCA criticized AUC’s statement and plan to implement the EOI submission competition process before providing its endorsement to the  DotAfrica application with ICANN. DCA said that AUC’s objective for accountability and transparency is “hollow and unbelievable” because the Commission did not even acknowledge the previous endorsement issued by Chairman Ping. Furthermore, DCA pointed out that the EOI process is bias because the AU Task Force already expressed its support for AfTLD during the 2011 annual African [[ccTLD]] event in Ghana. DCA encouraged all organizations  to disregard the AU EOI process and asked AUC to stop it.<ref>[http://www.prlog.org/11503736-yes2dotafrica-say-no-to-african-union-expression-of-interest-eoi-for-dotafrica.html Yes2DotAfrica Say "No" to African Union Expression of Interest (EOI) for DotAfrica]</ref><ref>[http://library.constantcontact.com/download/get/file/1102516344150-101/Post_Event_Press_release_final+AftLD.pdf event in Accra]</ref>

DCA criticized AUC’s statement and plan to implement the EOI submission competition process before providing its endorsement to the  DotAfrica application with the [[ICANN|Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers]]. DCA said that AUC’s objective for accountability and transparency is “hollow and unbelievable” because the Commission did not even acknowledge the previous endorsement issued by Chairman Ping. Furthermore, DCA pointed out that the EOI process is bias because the AU Task Force already expressed its support for AfTLD during the 2011 annual African [[ccTLD]] event in Ghana. DCA encouraged all organizations  to disregard the AU EOI process and asked AUC to stop it.<ref>[http://www.prlog.org/11503736-yes2dotafrica-say-no-to-african-union-expression-of-interest-eoi-for-dotafrica.html Yes2DotAfrica Say "No" to African Union Expression of Interest (EOI) for DotAfrica]</ref><ref>[http://library.constantcontact.com/download/get/file/1102516344150-101/Post_Event_Press_release_final+AftLD.pdf event in Accra]</ref>

===Continuous Promotional Campaign at ICANN Meetings===

===Continuous Promotional Campaign at ICANN Meetings===