Changes

In 2011, the African Union considered placing .africa on the list of reserved names for the new gTLD program, making it so that no group other than the African Union could apply for it.  This was strongly opposed by DotConnectAfrica in Dakar, Senegal. In the end, the TLD was not reserved.<ref>[http://myemail.constantcontact.com/Season-s-Greetings---A-Year-in-Review-2011---DotConnectAfrica.html?soid=1102516344150&aid=jTR9j-qUtE4 2011 End of Year Message at Christmas-from the Yes2DotAfrica Campaign!]</ref>

In 2011, the African Union considered placing .africa on the list of reserved names for the new gTLD program, making it so that no group other than the African Union could apply for it.  This was strongly opposed by DotConnectAfrica in Dakar, Senegal. In the end, the TLD was not reserved.<ref>[http://myemail.constantcontact.com/Season-s-Greetings---A-Year-in-Review-2011---DotConnectAfrica.html?soid=1102516344150&aid=jTR9j-qUtE4 2011 End of Year Message at Christmas-from the Yes2DotAfrica Campaign!]</ref>

==Registry.Africa Bid==

==Registry.Africa (UniForum SA) Bid==

In February 2012, the African Union Commission (AUC) announced that it had chosen [[UniForum SA]], registry operator for [[.za]], as the registry operator for its .africa application in conjunction with [[AfTLD]] after an RFP in December 2011.<ref>[http://mybroadband.co.za/news/internet/44077-uniforum-sa-to-administer-africa-domain.html UniForum SA to administer .africa domain, mybroadband.co.za]</ref> Later that month, it was announced that [[Sedari]] would assist in supporting the application with its financial, technical and policy support services.<ref>[http://domainincite.com/sedari-working-on-africa-gtld-bid/ Sedari working on .africa gTLD bid, domainincite.com]</ref> In response to these announcements, DCA issued a [http://archive.constantcontact.com/fs053/1102516344150/archive/1109462804750.html press release] accusing the AU's selection of UniForum SA to be in bad faith, and that the AU's power to select a back-end registry operator for the .africa TLD is illegitimate.<ref>[http://aptantech.com/2012/03/dca-challenges-africa-union-on-full-disclosure-over-dotafrica-gtld-matters/ DCA challenges Africa Union on full disclosure over (dot)Africa gTLD matters, aptantech.com]</ref>

In February 2012, the African Union Commission (AUC) announced that it had chosen [[UniForum SA]], registry operator for [[.za]], as the registry operator for its .africa application in conjunction with [[AfTLD]] after an RFP in December 2011.<ref>[http://mybroadband.co.za/news/internet/44077-uniforum-sa-to-administer-africa-domain.html UniForum SA to administer .africa domain, mybroadband.co.za]</ref> Later that month, it was announced that [[Sedari]] would assist in supporting the application with its financial, technical and policy support services.<ref>[http://domainincite.com/sedari-working-on-africa-gtld-bid/ Sedari working on .africa gTLD bid, domainincite.com]</ref> In response to these announcements, DCA issued a [http://archive.constantcontact.com/fs053/1102516344150/archive/1109462804750.html press release] accusing the AU's selection of UniForum SA to be in bad faith, and that the AU's power to select a back-end registry operator for the .africa TLD is illegitimate.<ref>[http://aptantech.com/2012/03/dca-challenges-africa-union-on-full-disclosure-over-dotafrica-gtld-matters/ DCA challenges Africa Union on full disclosure over (dot)Africa gTLD matters, aptantech.com]</ref>

UniForum SA, supported by the AUC, [[AfTLD]], [[AfriNIC]], and other organizations, applied for .africa under the company [[Registry.Africa]].<ref>[http://africainonespace.org/members.php?id=2&title=STEERING%20COMMITTEE Registry.Africa Steering Committee]</ref>

UniForum SA, supported by the AUC, [[AfTLD]], [[AfriNIC]], and other organizations, applied for .africa under the company [[Registry.Africa]].<ref>[http://africainonespace.org/members.php?id=2&title=STEERING%20COMMITTEE Registry.Africa Steering Committee]</ref> It has the support of over 39 individual African governments.<ref>[https://gacweb.icann.org/download/attachments/22938690/Africa-AUC-42560.pdf?version=1&modificationDate=1353382039000 Africa AUC, GACweb.ICANN.org] Retrieved 24 November 2012]</ref>

==DotConnectAfrica Bid==

==DotConnectAfrica Bid==