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→Championing the .africa (dotAfrica) gTLD Project: IRP .Africa
Bekele currently oversees the [[.africa]] new gTLD initiative of DotConnectAfrica Trust. As Executive Director of DCA Trust & CEO of DotConnectAfrica Registry Services Limited, she has led a multi-national team of experts to prepare and submit an application for the DotAfrica (.AFRICA) generic Top-Level Domain. [[DotConnectAfrica]] Trust (DCA Trust) has already submitted an application in May 2012 for the .AFRICA (pronounced as ‘DotAfrica’) geographic name string<ref>[http://gtldresult.icann.org/applicationstatus/applicationdetails/1276;jsessionid=2500230032894FB8CB3F16550E33DF0Farchive.constantcontact.com/fs053/1102516344150/archive/1110237447043,ICANN New gTLDs - Application Details]</ref> to the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN), a U.S.-based non-profit organization that is overseeing the global Internet expansion project to introduce new generic Top-Level Domain Names (gTLDs) under the new gTLD Program.
Bekele currently oversees the [[.africa]] new gTLD initiative of DotConnectAfrica Trust. As Executive Director of DCA Trust & CEO of DotConnectAfrica Registry Services Limited, she has led a multi-national team of experts to prepare and submit an application for the DotAfrica (.AFRICA) generic Top-Level Domain. [[DotConnectAfrica]] Trust (DCA Trust) has already submitted an application in May 2012 for the .AFRICA (pronounced as ‘DotAfrica’) geographic name string<ref>[http://gtldresult.icann.org/applicationstatus/applicationdetails/1276;jsessionid=2500230032894FB8CB3F16550E33DF0Farchive.constantcontact.com/fs053/1102516344150/archive/1110237447043,ICANN New gTLDs - Application Details]</ref> to the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN), a U.S.-based non-profit organization that is overseeing the global Internet expansion project to introduce new generic Top-Level Domain Names (gTLDs) under the new gTLD Program.
During ICANN new gTLDs initial evaluation of applications, Sophia Bekele’s organization DotConnectAfrica’s application passed all the evaluation criteria including Financial, Technical and Operational Capability Evaluation Panels, however the application was stopped due to the governmental objections effected at the ICANN Beijing meeting. <ref>[http://www.cio.co.ke/news/main-stories/dca-trust-takes-%E2%80%9C.africa%E2%80%9D-case-with-icann-to-independent-review-process-irp-panel DCA Trust takes “.africa” case with ICANN to Independent Review Process (IRP) Panel]</ref><ref>[http://allafrica.com/stories/201401221336.html DCA Trust Takes '.africa' Case With Icann to Independent Review Process Panel]</ref><ref>[https://www.icann.org/resources/pages/dca-v-icann-2013-12-11-en DCA Trust V ICANN]</ref>
DCA Trust then filed for an independent review of its application at the International Centre for Dispute Resolution (“ICDR”), the international arm of the American Arbitration Association (AAA) of its application in October 2013<ref>[http://www.cio.co.ke/news/top-stories/dca-trust-wins-first-round-against-icann-in-injunction-on-dotafrica-domain DCA Trust wins first round against ICANN in injunction on DotAfrica domain]</ref><ref>[http://www.humanipo.com/news/43884/dotafrica-launch-further-delayed-by-dotconnectafrica-injunction/ dotAfrica launch further delayed by DotConnectAfrica injunction]</ref> <ref>[http://www.circleid.com/posts/dca_receives_an_injunction_it_requested_in_its_irp_proceedings/ DCA Receives an Injunction It Requested in Its IRP Proceedings]</ref><ref>[http://domainnewsafrica.com/breaking-dotconnectafrica-wins-dotafrica-injunction-against-icann-in-first-new-gtld-irp-case/ Breaking: DotConnectAfrica wins .africa injunction against ICANN in first new gTLD IRP case]</ref><ref>[http://allafrica.com/stories/201405131325.html DCA Trust Wins First Round Against Icann in Injunction On Dotafrica Domain]</ref><ref>[http://tandaabiashara.com/tribunal-freezes-icann-processing-on-africa-independent-review-panel-rules-in-favor-of-dotconnectafrica/ Tribunal freezes ICANN processing on .africa: Independent Review Panel Rules in favor of DotConnectAfrica]</ref> disagreeing with ICANN Board decision which was called “unfair, discriminatory, and lacked appropriate due diligence and care” as well as “anti-competitive” to their application and organizational aspirations.
DCA Trust won Round one in its case against ICANN for the ".africa" domain on May 12 2014 when the panel declared ICANN must immediately refrain from any further processing of any application for .africa.<ref name="DCAWins1">[http://www.cio.co.ke/news/top-stories/dca-trust-wins-first-round-against-icann-in-injunction-on-dotafrica-domain DCA Trust wins first round against ICANN in injunction on DotAfrica domain]</ref><ref name="DCAWinsh1">[http://www.humanipo.com/news/43884/dotafrica-launch-further-delayed-by-dotconnectafrica-injunction/ dotAfrica launch further delayed by DotConnectAfrica injunction]</ref><ref name="DCAWinsCle1">[http://www.circleid.com/posts/dca_receives_an_injunction_it_requested_in_its_irp_proceedings/ DCA Receives an Injunction It Requested in Its IRP Proceedings]</ref><ref name="DCAWinsdns">[http://domainnewsafrica.com/breaking-dotconnectafrica-wins-dotafrica-injunction-against-icann-in-first-new-gtld-irp-case/ Breaking: DotConnectAfrica wins .africa injunction against ICANN in first new gTLD IRP case]</ref><ref name="DCAWinsalla">[http://allafrica.com/stories/201405131325.html DCA Trust Wins First Round Against Icann in Injunction On Dotafrica Domain]</ref><ref name="DCAWinstand">[http://tandaabiashara.com/tribunal-freezes-icann-processing-on-africa-independent-review-panel-rules-in-favor-of-dotconnectafrica/ Tribunal freezes ICANN processing on .africa: Independent Review Panel Rules in favor of DotConnectAfrica]</ref>
On 14 August 2014, the panel also issued a precedence setting ruling to accept DCA Trust's position on the procedural framework of the IRP proceedings and also terming its Declaration and the future Declaration on the Merits of the case are binding on ICANN.<ref name="DCAPfCIO">[http://www.cio.co.ke/news/top-stories/panel-accepts-dca%E2%80%99s-position-on-procedural-framework-on-dotafrica-irp Panel accepts DCA’s position on procedural framework on DotAfrica IRP]</ref> <ref name="DCAPfalla">[http://allafrica.com/stories/201409110194.html Africa: Panel Accepts DCA's Position On Procedural Framework On Dotafrica IRP]</ref> <ref name="DCAPftDm">[http://www.thedomains.com/2014/08/16/irp-panels-declaration-of-the-irp-procedure-in-the-case-of-dotconnect-africa-trust-vs-icann/ IRP Panel’s Declaration of the IRP Procedure in the case of DotConnectAfrica Trust vs ICANN]</ref> <ref name="DCAPfdma">[http://domainingafrica.com/panel-interprets-declarations-as-binding-on-the-africa-irp-lectures-icann-on-core-accountability-implications/ IRP Panel’s Declaration of the IRP Procedure Panel interprets Declarations as binding on the .Africa IRP, Lectures ICANN on core accountability implications]</ref><ref name="DCAPfngt">[http://www.newsgtlds.com/2014/08/dotconnectafrica-update-irp-panel-rules.html DotConnectAfrica Update: IRP Panel Rules to Accept DCA's Position On Procedural Framework]</ref>
===Independent Panel ruled in favor of DCA Trust===
On July 9 2015 the IRP independent review panel made its final ruling which declared that both actions and inactions of the Board with respect to the application of DCA Trust relating to the .AFRICA gTLD were inconsistent with the Articles of Incorporation and Bylaws of ICANN and thus declared DCA Trust as the prevailing party of the DCA Trust Vs ICANN IRP<ref>[https://www.icann.org/en/system/files/files/final-declaration-09jul15-en.pdf IRP Panel’s Final Declaration]</ref>. Further declared that ICANN is to bear, pursuant to Article IV, Section 3, paragraph 18 of the Bylaws, Article 11 of Supplementary Procedures and Article 31 of the ICDR Rules, the totality of the costs of this IRP and the totality of the costs of the IRP Provider. <ref>[http://www.theregister.co.uk/2015/07/15/icann_dot_africa_review/ Unredacted: ICANN's hidden role in fierce battle over .Africa rights]</ref><ref>[http://www.domainmondo.com/2015/07/dca-trust-irp-decision-icann-failed.html DCA Trust IRP Decision: ICANN Failed the Global Internet Community]</ref><ref>[http://ethioinfodesk.com/ethiopian-born-entrepreneur-sophia-bekele-wins-africa-domain-name-accountability-suit-against-icann/]</ref> <ref>[http://www.ipjustice.org/digital-rights/icann-loses-independent-review-panel-decision-for-unfairly-treating-tld-applicants-improper-deference-to-governments/ ICANN Loses Independent Review Panel Decision For Unfairly Treating TLD Applicant & Improper Deference to Governments]</ref><ref>[http://domainnewsafrica.com/icann-loses-dotafrica-case-irp-panel-rules-favor-dca/ ICANN loses .Africa case: IRP panel rules in favor of DCA]</ref><ref>[http://cio.co.ke/news/main-stories/dca-trust-wins-.africa-irp,-icann-to-pay-over-kshs-60-million-in-costs DCA Trust wins .africa IRP, ICANN to pay over Kshs 60 million in costs]</ref><ref>[http://tandaabiashara.com/breaking-dotconnectafrica-trust-victorious-on-its-challenge-of-icann-board-over-dotafrica/ Breaking: DotConnectAfrica Trust victorious on its challenge of ICANN Board over .africa]</ref><ref>[http://allafrica.com/stories/201507141174.html East Africa: DCA Trust Wins .Africa IRP, ICANN to Pay Over Kshs 60 Million in Costs]</ref><ref>[http://www.bna.com/review-panel-chides-n17179933491/ Review Panel Chides ICANN Board, Government Reps]</ref>
==Controversies==
==Controversies==