Changes

| country        = Mauritius

| country        = Mauritius

| businesses      =  

| businesses      =  

| products        = [[.africa]]

| products        =  

| employees      =   

| employees      =   

| revenue        =

| revenue        =

[http://www.prlog.org/10609436-nairobi-technical-community-urged-icanns-strong-support-for-dcas-efforts-on-africa-domain.html Nairobi Technical Community urged ICANN's strong support for DCA's efforts on '.africa' domain!]</ref>

[http://www.prlog.org/10609436-nairobi-technical-community-urged-icanns-strong-support-for-dcas-efforts-on-africa-domain.html Nairobi Technical Community urged ICANN's strong support for DCA's efforts on '.africa' domain!]</ref>

===AUC Alleged Retraction of Endorsement===

===AUC Retraction of Endorsement===

The African Union Commission issued a statement on May 12, 2010 referencing the statement of endorsement issued by Chairman Jean Ping to DCA. There was also another letter issued by African Union .Africa TaskForce which 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 would 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, 2010 referencing the statement of endorsement issued by Chairman Jean Ping to DCA. The AUC 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 would 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 plan to implement the EOI submission competition process for application endorsement. DCA claimed that the AUC’s objective for accountability and transparency was "hollow and unbelievable," as the letter they issues references the previous endorsement issued to DCA, however fails to acknowledge the previous endorsement issued by Chairman Ping.  Furthermore, DCA pointed out that the EOI process would be biased, as the [[AU Task Force]] had 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 cease the request.<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 plan to implement the EOI submission competition process for application endorsement. DCA claimed that the AUC’s objective for accountability and transparency was "hollow and unbelievable," as the letter they issues references the previous endorsement issued to DCA, however fails to acknowledge the previous endorsement issued by Chairman Ping.  Furthermore, DCA pointed out that the EOI process would be biased, as the [[AU Task Force]] had 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 cease the request.<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 & Other Forums===

===Continuous Promotional Campaign at ICANN Meetings & Other Forums===

Despite the AU's alleged retraction of support, DCA continued to campaign and promote its bid for .africa, particularly during [[ICANN Meetings]]. During the [[ICANN 38]] in Brussels, DCA served as one of the event sponsors. The organization also sponsored a delegation from Africa to take part in the policy debate that would help shape the position of the African community on the implementation of ICANN's [[New gTLD Program]].<ref>[http://www.prlog.org/10803421-progress-towards-africa-at-icann-38-in-brussels-the-capital-of-europe.html  Progress towards a ".africa" at ICANN 38, in Brussels the Capital of Europe]</ref>

Despite the AU's retraction of support, DCA continued to campaign and promote its bid for .africa, particularly during [[ICANN Meetings]]. During the [[ICANN 38]] in Brussels, DCA served as one of the event sponsors. The organization also sponsored a delegation from Africa to take part in the policy debate that would help shape the position of the African community on the implementation of ICANN's [[New gTLD Program]].<ref>[http://www.prlog.org/10803421-progress-towards-africa-at-icann-38-in-brussels-the-capital-of-europe.html  Progress towards a ".africa" at ICANN 38, in Brussels the Capital of Europe]</ref>

At [[ICANN 39]] in Cartagena, Columbia on December 2010, Bekele shared a statement during the public forum urging the ICANN Board not to delay the application process for new gTLDs, and enumerated the three key principles that serve as the foundation of DCA's governance for the .africa gTLD. These principles were: 1) branding the African continent's products and services through the .africa gTLD in order to inform people around the world about the positive things Africa has to offer; 2) DCA created “generation.africa” as a theme to empower the youth in Africa, helping them to adapt and use the power of the Internet; and 3) to shift the local domain name market from the US market of .com and .org to Africa, empowered by the DotAfrica registry to be located in the continent.<ref>[http://www.prlog.org/11150099-dotconnectafrica-statement-to-icann-public-forum-cartegena-colombia.html DotConnectAfrica statement to ICANN public forum, Cartegena, Colombia]</ref>

At [[ICANN 39]] in Cartagena, Columbia on December 2010, Bekele shared a statement during the public forum urging the ICANN Board not to delay the application process for new gTLDs, and enumerated the three key principles that serve as the foundation of DCA's governance for the .africa gTLD. These principles were: 1) branding the African continent's products and services through the .africa gTLD in order to inform people around the world about the positive things Africa has to offer; 2) DCA created “generation.africa” as a theme to empower the youth in Africa, helping them to adapt and use the power of the Internet; and 3) to shift the local domain name market from the US market of .com and .org to Africa, empowered by the DotAfrica registry to be located in the continent.<ref>[http://www.prlog.org/11150099-dotconnectafrica-statement-to-icann-public-forum-cartegena-colombia.html DotConnectAfrica statement to ICANN public forum, Cartegena, Colombia]</ref>