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| '''DotAfrica''' ('''.africa''') is a proposed New [[gTLD]] for the promotion of African Identity (businesses, people and culture) on the Internet. There are currently several known applicants vying for the TLD. These entities include [[Dot Connect Africa]] (DCA), a Mauritius based not-for-profit, non-partisan organization founded by [[Sophia Bekele]]; the Africa Top Level Domain ([[AfTLD]]) Organization, a non-profit organization also established in Mauritius headed by [[Vika Mpisane]]; and the African Registry Consortium ([[ARC]]), owned and operated by [[Domain Name Services (Pty) Ltd.]] and [[Convergence Partners (Pty) Ltd.]]. | | '''DotAfrica''' may refer to: |
| | * [[.africa]], a proposed [[New gTLD Program|New gTLD]] |
| | * [[DotAfrica.org]]/[[DotAfrica Organization]], a technical forum for the discussion of the .africa TLD. |
| | * [[Registry.Africa]], a subsidiary of [[UniForum SA]] the AU-backed bid for .africa. |
| | * [[DotConnectAfrica]], another applicant for .africa. |
| | * [[.dotafrica]], a applied-for string by [[DotConnectAfrica]] that was later announced to be a mistake. |
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| ==Background==
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| DotAfrica was originally proposed by non-African companies during [[ICANN]]'s first new gTLD application round in 2000. The application was strongly opposed, however, by some African professionals. They perceived that the application was not beneficial for the African continent. Subsequently, in 2002, those professionals who were in opposition to the original application began development of a draft operational model for a DotAfrica managed by Africans.<ref>[http://www.nepad.org/system/files/Background%20note%20%20on%20DotAfrica%20-Final%20version%20ENG.pdf African Union Briefing Note on .Africa]</ref> Since then, several African entities has been interested in the implementation of DotAfrica as a new gTLD, including DCA, AfTLD, and ARC.
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| During the 2009 African Union conference at Johannesburg, South Africa, the AU Ministers expressed their support of the DotAfrica proposal and acknowledged its possible benefits for the development of the Internet within the African continent. The Ministers adopted a resolution to establish .africa as a continental TLD for use by organizations, businesses and individuals with guidance from African Internet agencies.<ref>[http://www.nepad.org/system/files/Background%20note%20%20on%20DotAfrica%20-Final%20version%20ENG.pdf African Union Briefing Note on .Africa]</ref> In addition, the African Union was mandated by its Member States to establish cooperation and partnership with Internet stakeholders, as well as in the preparation and submission of an application for DotAfrica as new gTLD to ICANN.<ref>[http://www.africandiplomacy.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=308%3Adotafrica-a-specific-internet-namespace-for-africa&catid=139%3Ascience-et-technology&Itemid=90&lang=en DOTAFRICA - A specific internet namespace for Africa]</ref>
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| ==DotConnectAfrica Bid for DotAfrica==
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| In 2006, Sophia Bekele, initiated the proposal to develop the DotAfrica gTLD through her non-profit organization DotConnectAfrica (DCA), which would serve as the sponsor and registry operator. She first presented her proposal to the African Members of the [[ICANN Board]] as well as to African members from various different groups within the ICANN community at [[ICANN 28]] in Lisbon. In her presentation, Bekele emphasized the need and significance of the .africa domain name to reach and enrich the global internet community. She pointed out that .africa would enable users to express their membership in a larger Pan-African and African community, and also allow Africa to take its rightful place alongside [[.asia]] and [[.eu]]. In addition, Bekele cited that the DotAfrica proposal complies with the objectives of the [[WSIS]] to empower developing countries using ICT, as well as to the policies of the African Union, United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA), and the Africa Drive Project for the development of the continent.<ref>[http://www.slideshare.net/Nyosef/dotafrica .Africa's Map in the Digital Inclusion: A Common Voice for Africa By Sophia Bekele]</ref>
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| Since then, Bekele has actively campaigned for the .africa proposal among organizations and communities in the African region. In 2008, Bekele announced DCA's DotAfrica initiative during the public forum at the ICANN Paris Meeting.<ref>[http://www.dotconnectafrica.org/2008/06/22-june-2008-paris-icann-dot-africa-initiative-announced-icann-paris-meeting/ 22 June 2008 – Paris ICANN: DotAfrica Initiative announced at ICANN Paris meeting]</ref>
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| ===AUA Letter of Endorsement to DCA DotAfrica Project===
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| On August 27, 2009, the African Union Authority (AUA) expressed its support for DCA's DotAfrica Project, also expressing a willingness to provide assistance in the coordination of the initiative with the African Ministers and Governments. Furthermore, the AUA endorsed the DCA initiative as a while. The letter was signed by AUA Chairman Jean Ping.<ref>[http://www.scribd.com/doc/31565131/African-Union-AU-Endorsement-of-DotConnectAfrica#fullscreen:on African Union Commission Letter, Subject: Endorsement of the Dot Africa (.africa) Initiative]</ref>
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| On May 12, 2011, however, the African Union Commission retracted the endorsement made by AUA Chairman Jean Ping to DCA. The AUC clarified that during the Members States meeting, the African Union Ministers in charge of Communication and Information Technologies had decided to allow competition among organizations interested in sponsoring and operating the proposed .africa gTLD. The AUC pointed out that it was not supporting or endorsing any individual or organization. In addition, the AUC announced that entities must submit an Expression of Interest (EOI), on which they would base their selection and endorsement.<ref>[http://library.constantcontact.com/download/get/file/1102516344150-107/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>
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| ===DCA Reaction to African Union EOI===
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| DCA criticized the AU's decision to implement the EOI submission competition process for its endorsement on the ICANN application for .africa. In a statement, DCA pointed out that the AU's objective to implement transparency and accountability in the EOI process sounded hollow and unbelievable and emphasized that the AU clarification was untruthful to the extent that it did not acknowledge the previous endorsement of DCA by the AU. DCA also said that the EOI process has already been compromised, as the AU Task Force has openly expressed its support for AfTLD during the 2011 annual African [[ccTLD]] event in Ghana. Furthermore, DCA encouraged all entities to ignore the AU EOI process and requested the AU Commission to stop the process immediately.<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>
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| ===DCA Yes to DotAfrica Campaign===
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| At [[ICANN 40]] in San Francisco in March 2011, DCA and its delegation introduced its Yes to DotAfrica campaign and spoke with registry vendors about DCA's EOI to apply for .africa. During the meeting, DCA claimed that it received support from a majority of the ICANN community for its initiative. Bekele said that collaboration and non-competitive collaboration are possible in the bid for .africa and should be considered. She stated that her organization is open to discuss a collaborative bid. She further said, "We will welcome guidance from all African Internet agencies in our organized effort; as well as the same from our international partners”.<ref>[http://www.dotconnectafrica.org/2011/03/yes2dotafrica-campaign-successful-icann-40-san-francisco-ca/ Yes2dotAfrica Campaign successful at ICANN 40 in San Francisco, CA]</ref>
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| ==DotAfrica Organization Bid for DotAfrica==
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| The [[DotAfrica Organization]] Limited is another group interested in the development of the DotAfrica as a new TLD. [[Nii Quaynor]] launched DotAfrica.org on June 21, 2004<ref>[http://whois.domaintools.com/dotafrica.org DotAfrica.org Whois Data]</ref> and [[Pierre Ouedraogo]] serves as the site's contact person.<ref>[http://www.dotafrica.org/home.html DotAfrica.org Home]</ref> The organization is not yet incorporated and it plans to partner with [[Internet Solutions of South Africa]] to become the registry operator of DotAfrica. The organization is committed in the development of the Internet within the African continent and has enumerated the following specific missions:
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| * To sponsor, establish and operate a regional Internet namespace with global recognition and regional significance. The namespace is dedicated to the needs of the Pan-African Internet community.
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| * To reinvest surpluses in socio-technological advancement initiatives relevant to the Pan-African Internet community.
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| * To operate a successful not-for-profit initiative that is a technically sound, leading edge TLD registry for the Pan-African Internet community.<ref>[http://www.dotafrica.org/mission.html The Dot Africa Project Website]</ref>
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| ===Controversy===
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| DotAfrica Organization and DotAfrica.org have come under scrutiny from DCA, who claims that the organization is no longer a serious contender for .africa, and that it is a hollow shell that has been abandoned by its founder (Quaynor) for more financially sustainable prospects. DCA also argues that the DotAfrica Organization's proposal supports a Ghanaian-sponsored agenda.<ref>[http://domainsafrica.blogspot.com/2011/09/whither-dotafrica-amidst-confusion.html Whither DotAfrica amidst Confusion, Promiscuity and many Strange Bed-fellows]</ref>
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| ==AfTLD Bid for DotAfrica==
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| On March 9, 2011, AfTLD Chairman Vikas Mpisane announced that AfTLD would seek the endorsement of the African Union in connection with its application become the registry operator for the proposed .africa gTLD. According to Mpisane, the organization is interested managing both DotAfrica and its French version, .afrique, which is notable, as a purported 50% of Africans speak French. The organization is confident that it will be successful with its bid for the DotAfrica project, given the support it has received from the African community, African governments and its close relationship with other Africa internet organizations such as [[AfNOG]], [[AfriNIC]] and [[AfrISPA]].<ref>[http://www.aftld.org/html/english/news_dotafrica.html AfTLD takes on .africa]</ref>
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| Following its announcement to seek the AU endorsement, during the 5th Annual African ccTLD Event in Accra, Ghana on May 2011, [[Haruna Iddrissu]], Ghana Minister of
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| Communications, and [[Nii Quaynor|Dr. Nii Quaynor]], Chairman of the Organization of African Unity (OAU) Internet Task Force, expressed their support for AfTLD's bid to become the registry operator of .africa.<ref>[http://library.constantcontact.com/download/get/file/1102516344150-101/Post_Event_Press_release_final+AftLD.pdf AfTLD concludes a successful annual concludes a successful annual African ccTLD event in Accra]</ref>
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| ==ARC Bid for DotAfrica==
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| The African Registry Consortium ([[ARC]]) is also interested in bidding to operate DotAfrica, however it is willing to partner with AfTLD and offered to provide technical, operational and financial resources for the preparation of a strong application for the management of the DotAfrica registry.<ref>[http://www.africanregistry.net/content.php?contentID=1 ARC Executive Summary]</ref>
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| ==References==
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| {{reflist}}
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| [[Category:Glossary]]
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