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'''.africa''' ('''DotAfrica''') 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 [[DotConnectAfrica]] (DCA) based in Nairobi, Kenya and Incorporated in Mauritius Africa. DCA is a 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.]] and still yet another one AfricaOnespace.org, who came recently into the scene whose owners are affiliated with ARC, the same Executives in UNIFORUM SA.
'''.africa''' is a proposed new [[gTLD]] for the promotion of African Identity (businesses, people and culture) on the Internet. There are two applicants vying for the TLD, although in the past there were rumors of several others. These entities are [[DotConnectAfrica]] (DCA), based in Nairobi, Kenya and incorporated in Mauritius. DCA is a not-for-profit, non-partisan organization founded by [[Sophia Bekele]].<ref>[http://dotafrica.blogspot.com/p/dotafrica.html About DotAfrica]</ref> [[Registry.Africa]] is the other applicant. Registry.Africa is operated by [[Uniforum SA]] and backed by the African Union.<ref>[http://www.africainonespace.org africainonespace.org]</ref> Other organizations who have in the past publicly considered submitting applications are the [[AfTLD]] and [[ARC]].


==Background==
==Background==
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, the proposal to develop the DotAfrica TLD was first introduced by [[Sophia Bekele]] to the African Members of the [[ICANN Board]] in 2006 and later on to different African organizations of the ICANN community during the [[ICANN 28]] meeting in Lisbon, Portugal in 2007. She emphasized the importance of the .africa domain name for the benefit of the African region’s internet development and how it could serve as global identity for African internet users, as [[.asia]] and [[.eu]] do for their regions. She pointed out that [[.africa]] would enable users to express their membership in a larger Pan-African and African community. Bekele cited that the DotAfrica proposalwas compliant with the objectives and policies of various international organizations aiming to strengthen Africa's ICT sector, including the [[WSIS]], the African Union, and the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA).<ref>[http://www.slideshare.net/Nyosef/dotafrica .Africa's Map in the Digital Inclusion: A Common Voice for Africa By Sophia Bekele]</ref>. 
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, a proposal to develop an Africa-run .africa TLD was first introduced by [[Sophia Bekele]] to the African members of the [[ICANN Board]] in 2006, and to different African organizations of the ICANN community during the [[ICANN 28]] meeting in Lisbon, Portugal in 2007. She emphasized the importance of the .africa domain name for the benefit of the African region’s Internet development, and how it could serve as global identity for African internet users, as [[.asia]] and [[.eu]] do for their regions. She pointed out that .africa would enable users to express their membership in a larger Pan-African and African community. Bekele cited that the .africa proposal was compliant with the objectives and policies of various international organizations aiming to strengthen Africa's ICT sector, including the [[WSIS]], the African Union, and the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA).<ref>[http://www.slideshare.net/Nyosef/dotafrica .Africa's Map in the Digital Inclusion: A Common Voice for Africa By Sophia Bekele]</ref>


During the [[ICANN 32]] International ICANN Paris Public Meeting, Bekele officially announced her organization's interest to apply for the .africa TLD through DotConnectAfrica.<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>
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. DCA won its case over this matter and 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>


===DotConnectAfrica Bid for DotAfrica to iCANN===
==DotConnectAfrica Bid for DotAfrica to ICANN==
[[Sophia Bekele]] further develop the proposal and an awareness creation of the DotAfrica gTLD through her non-profit organization [[DotConnectAfrica]] (DCA), which would serve as the sponsor and registry operator.   Since then, Bekele has actively campaigned for the .africa proposal among organizations and communities in the African region and the global African and internet community. 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>
Bekele further develop the proposal and created awareness for the TLD through her non-profit organization, DotConnectAfrica (DCA), which would serve as the sponsor and registry operator. Bekele has actively campaigned for the .africa proposal among organizations and communities in the African region and the global African and Internet community. In 2008, Bekele announced DCA's DotAfrica initiative during the public forum at [[ICANN 32]] in Paris.<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>


===AUC Letter of Endorsement to DCA's DotAfrica Project===
===AUC Letter of Endorsement to DCA's DotAfrica Project===
On August 27, 2009, the African Union Commission (AUC) 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 AUC endorsed the DCA initiative.  The letter was signed by AUC 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>   In addition, 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. This was based on the proposal submitted to the AU by DCA during the previous years and after DCA was already endorsed by the African. 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>.  
On August 27, 2009, the African Union Commission (AUC) 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. The letter was signed by AUC 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> In addition, 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. This was based on the proposal submitted to the AU by DCA during the previous years. 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>.  


===AUC's interest in DotAfrica===
===AUC's interest in DotAfrica===
In a later development after endorsement to DCA, the African union stated that it 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>,<ref>[[http://news.idg.no/cw/art.cfm?id=EFAAA1C0-1A64-6A71-CE3979187410031B]]</ref>
In a later development after endorsement to DCA, the African union stated that it 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>,<ref>[[http://news.idg.no/cw/art.cfm?id=EFAAA1C0-1A64-6A71-CE3979187410031B]]</ref>


On May 12, 2010, nearly eight months after endorsing DCA, the AUC tried to retract the endorsement made by AUC Chairman Jean Ping to DCA, under what DCA alleged is a forged letter. A year after this alleged retraction, the AUC issues a clarification stating they are 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>
On May 12, 2010, the AUC send a letter to DCA retracting the endorsement made by Chairman Jean Ping. DCA claims that this letter was forged. A year after this retraction, the AUC issued a clarification stating they currently did not support or endorse any individual or organization, and 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>
 
In 2010 the African Union called for a dotAfrica TaskForce that did not include DCA and drafted a document expressing interest in owning and leading the dotafrica gTLD and applying to ICANN directly.<ref>[http://www.nepad.org/system/files/Background%20note%20%20on%20DotAfrica%20-Final%20version%20ENG.pdf African Union Briefing Note on .Africa]</ref>, <ref>[http://www.pctechmagazine.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=189:press-release-dot-africa-gtld-project&catid=1:latest-news&Itemid=162]]</ref>. The AU then issued an Expression for dotafrica gTLD for organizations to apply directly to African Union for the operations of a dotAfrica Registry.  Since then, African entities has been interested in the implementation of DotAfrica as a new gTLD, including AfTLD, and ARC.  The DCA opposed this move of African Union calling for a mandate for an African Registry, saying African Union does not have a mandate to give a mandate.<ref>[[http://archive.constantcontact.com/fs053/1102516344150/archive/1104237255664.html]]</ref>.


===DCA Reaction to African Union EOI===
===DCA Reaction to African Union EOI===
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's clarification was untruthful to the extent that it did not acknowledge its previous endorsement to DCA.   
DCA criticized the AU's decision to implement the EOI submission competition process. 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's clarification was untruthful to the extent that it did not acknowledge its previous endorsement to DCA.   


DCA also said that the EOI process had already been compromised, as the AU Task Force had openly expressed its support for AfTLD during the 2011 annual African [[ccTLD]] event in Ghana. Additionally, the AU Task Force are the same members that have expressing Interest in the dotAfrica proposal for themselves, therefore a major<ref>[[http://www.pctechmagazine.com/Communique_on_DotAfrica_08Nov2010_v2.pdf]]</ref> conflict of interest exists.  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>.
DCA also said that the EOI process had already been compromised, as the AU Task Force had openly expressed its support for AfTLD during the 2011 annual African [[ccTLD]] event in Ghana. 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>


===DCA Yes to DotAfrica Campaign===
===DCA Yes to DotAfrica Campaign===
DCA has announced that it plans to continue with its application for .africa with or without the AUC's support, as it believed the original endorsements granted to it by the AUC is valid and calling any retraction attempt as sabotage and unsuccessful. 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 recalled DCA's initial commitment in their press statement after its  endorsement by AUC saying "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>
DCA announced that it plans to continue with its application for .africa with or without the AUC's support, as it believed the original endorsement granted to it by the AUC was valid and calling any retraction attempt as sabotage and unsuccessful. 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, and that her organization was open to discuss a collaborative bid.<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>


==AfTLD Bid for DotAfrica==
==Registry.Africa Bid==
On March 9, 2011, AfTLD Chairman Vikas Mpisane announced that AfTLD would seek the endorsement of the African Union in connection with its application to become the registry operator for the proposed .africa gTLD.<ref>[[http://domainincite.com/3796-competition-for-africa-heats-up]]</ref>. 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>
In February 2012, the AU called for an open RFP for companies to provide AUC with proposal for the operation of the DotAfrica gTLD and stated that this was the only basis for endorsement from AUC.  It then announced that it had appointed [[UniForum SA]], registry operator for [[.za]], as the registry operator for .africa application in conjunction with AfTLD.<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 Press Briefing [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> and also that the AU and UNIFORUM should beware of Wrongdoing over DotAfrica <ref>[http://archive.constantcontact.com/fs053/1102516344150/archive/1109846725800.html]</ref>


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 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>.  DCA opposed to the AFTLD bid due to the conflict of interest of the AUC Task force members aligning themselves with members of AFTLD, calling the proposal campaigning against it as the the "GAMEKEEPER is also the POACHER!!!". Also stating that the African ccTLDs do not own the AFTLD, thus is unrepresentative of Africa as AFTLD claims.<ref>[[http://archive.constantcontact.com/fs053/1102516344150/archive/1104815470848.html]]</ref>.  The AFTLD bid then did not success on its own.
==Past Bids==
The following organizations had publicly expressed interest in running the .africa TLD, however in the end did not submit applications:


==ARC Bid for DotAfrica==
===AfTLD Bid for DotAfrica===
The African Registry Consortium ([[ARC]]) was also interested in bidding to operate DotAfrica, and 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> However, the ARC bid failed due to strong opposition by DCA which alleged opportunistic business model and no consultation with community.<ref>[[http://myemail.constantcontact.com/The-Leopard-Cannot-Change-its-Spots--Say--No--to-the-ARC--African-Registry-Consortium.html?soid=1102516344150&aid=BYYeJN0_fLU]]</ref>
On March 9, 2011, AfTLD Chairman Vikas Mpisane announced that AfTLD would seek the endorsement of the African Union in connection with its application to become the registry operator for the proposed .africa gTLD.<ref>[http://domainincite.com/3796-competition-for-africa-heats-up]</ref> According to Mpisane, the organization was interested in managing both DotAfrica and its French version, .afrique. The organization was confident that it would 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, incuding [[AfNOG]], [[AfriNIC]] and [[AfrISPA]].<ref>[http://www.aftld.org/html/english/news_dotafrica.html AfTLD takes on .africa]</ref>


==AUC and Request for DotAfrica Reserved Names==
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 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>
In 2011, African Union considered placing DotAfrica 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 who believed that the [[.africa]]TLD should not be delegated by the structure the African Union identified and tried to delegate outside of the ICANN news gTLD programme. DCA won its case over this matter and 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>


==UNIFORUM Appointment for DOTAfrica gTLD by AUC==
===ARC Bid for DotAfrica===
In February 2012, the AU called for an open RFP for companies to provide AUC with proposal for the operation of the DotAfrica gTLD and stated that this was the only basis for endorsement from AUC.  It then announced that it had appointed [[UniForum SA]], registry operator for [[.za]], as the registry operator for .africa application in conjunction with AfTLD.<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 Press Briefing [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> and also that the AU and UNIFORUM should beware of Wrongdoing over DotAfrica <ref>[[http://archive.constantcontact.com/fs053/1102516344150/archive/1109846725800.html]]</ref>
The African Registry Consortium ([[ARC]]) was also interested in bidding to operate DotAfrica, and 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> However, the ARC bid failed due to strong opposition by DCA, which alleged opportunistic business model and no consultation with community.<ref>[[http://myemail.constantcontact.com/The-Leopard-Cannot-Change-its-Spots--Say--No--to-the-ARC--African-Registry-Consortium.html?soid=1102516344150&aid=BYYeJN0_fLU]]</ref>


==References==
==References==

Revision as of 00:44, 9 August 2012

Status: Proposed
country: African region
Type: GeoTLD
More information:

.africa is a proposed new gTLD for the promotion of African Identity (businesses, people and culture) on the Internet. There are two applicants vying for the TLD, although in the past there were rumors of several others. These entities are DotConnectAfrica (DCA), based in Nairobi, Kenya and incorporated in Mauritius. DCA is a not-for-profit, non-partisan organization founded by Sophia Bekele.[1] Registry.Africa is the other applicant. Registry.Africa is operated by Uniforum SA and backed by the African Union.[2] Other organizations who have in the past publicly considered submitting applications are the AfTLD and ARC.

Background[edit | edit source]

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, a proposal to develop an Africa-run .africa TLD was first introduced by Sophia Bekele to the African members of the ICANN Board in 2006, and to different African organizations of the ICANN community during the ICANN 28 meeting in Lisbon, Portugal in 2007. She emphasized the importance of the .africa domain name for the benefit of the African region’s Internet development, and how it could serve as global identity for African internet users, as .asia and .eu do for their regions. She pointed out that .africa would enable users to express their membership in a larger Pan-African and African community. Bekele cited that the .africa proposal was compliant with the objectives and policies of various international organizations aiming to strengthen Africa's ICT sector, including the WSIS, the African Union, and the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA).[3]

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. DCA won its case over this matter and the TLD was not reserved.[4]

DotConnectAfrica Bid for DotAfrica to ICANN[edit | edit source]

Bekele further develop the proposal and created awareness for the TLD through her non-profit organization, DotConnectAfrica (DCA), which would serve as the sponsor and registry operator. Bekele has actively campaigned for the .africa proposal among organizations and communities in the African region and the global African and Internet community. In 2008, Bekele announced DCA's DotAfrica initiative during the public forum at ICANN 32 in Paris.[5]

AUC Letter of Endorsement to DCA's DotAfrica Project[edit | edit source]

On August 27, 2009, the African Union Commission (AUC) 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. The letter was signed by AUC Chairman Jean Ping.[6] In addition, 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. This was based on the proposal submitted to the AU by DCA during the previous years. 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.[7].

AUC's interest in DotAfrica[edit | edit source]

In a later development after endorsement to DCA, the African union stated that it 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.[8],[9]

On May 12, 2010, the AUC send a letter to DCA retracting the endorsement made by Chairman Jean Ping. DCA claims that this letter was forged. A year after this retraction, the AUC issued a clarification stating they currently did not support or endorse any individual or organization, and that entities must submit an Expression of Interest (EOI), on which they would base their selection and endorsement.[10]

DCA Reaction to African Union EOI[edit | edit source]

DCA criticized the AU's decision to implement the EOI submission competition process. 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's clarification was untruthful to the extent that it did not acknowledge its previous endorsement to DCA.

DCA also said that the EOI process had already been compromised, as the AU Task Force had openly expressed its support for AfTLD during the 2011 annual African ccTLD event in Ghana. DCA encouraged all entities to ignore the AU EOI process and requested the AU Commission to stop the process immediately.[11][12]

DCA Yes to DotAfrica Campaign[edit | edit source]

DCA announced that it plans to continue with its application for .africa with or without the AUC's support, as it believed the original endorsement granted to it by the AUC was valid and calling any retraction attempt as sabotage and unsuccessful. 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, and that her organization was open to discuss a collaborative bid.[13]

Registry.Africa Bid[edit | edit source]

In February 2012, the AU called for an open RFP for companies to provide AUC with proposal for the operation of the DotAfrica gTLD and stated that this was the only basis for endorsement from AUC. It then announced that it had appointed UniForum SA, registry operator for .za, as the registry operator for .africa application in conjunction with AfTLD.[14] Later that month, it was announced that Sedari would assist in supporting the application with its financial, technical and policy support services.[15] In response to these announcements, DCA issued a Press Briefing 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.[16] and also that the AU and UNIFORUM should beware of Wrongdoing over DotAfrica [17]

Past Bids[edit | edit source]

The following organizations had publicly expressed interest in running the .africa TLD, however in the end did not submit applications:

AfTLD Bid for DotAfrica[edit | edit source]

On March 9, 2011, AfTLD Chairman Vikas Mpisane announced that AfTLD would seek the endorsement of the African Union in connection with its application to become the registry operator for the proposed .africa gTLD.[18] According to Mpisane, the organization was interested in managing both DotAfrica and its French version, .afrique. The organization was confident that it would 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, incuding AfNOG, AfriNIC and AfrISPA.[19]

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 Communications and 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.[20]

ARC Bid for DotAfrica[edit | edit source]

The African Registry Consortium (ARC) was also interested in bidding to operate DotAfrica, and 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.[21] However, the ARC bid failed due to strong opposition by DCA, which alleged opportunistic business model and no consultation with community.[22]

References[edit | edit source]

  1. ↑ About DotAfrica
  2. ↑ africainonespace.org
  3. ↑ .Africa's Map in the Digital Inclusion: A Common Voice for Africa By Sophia Bekele
  4. ↑ 2011 End of Year Message at Christmas-from the Yes2DotAfrica Campaign!
  5. ↑ 22 June 2008 – Paris ICANN: DotAfrica Initiative announced at ICANN Paris meeting
  6. ↑ African Union Commission Letter, Subject: Endorsement of the Dot Africa (.africa) Initiative
  7. ↑ African Union Briefing Note on .Africa
  8. ↑ DOTAFRICA - A specific internet namespace for Africa]
  9. ↑ [[1]]
  10. ↑ COMMUNIQUE: The Africa Union Commission Clarification on Dot Africa]
  11. ↑ Yes2DotAfrica Say "No" to African Union Expression of Interest (EOI) for DotAfrica
  12. ↑ event in Accra
  13. ↑ Yes2dotAfrica Campaign successful at ICANN 40 in San Francisco, CA
  14. ↑ UniForum SA to administer .africa domain, mybroadband.co.za
  15. ↑ Sedari working on .africa gTLD bid, domainincite.com
  16. ↑ DCA challenges Africa Union on full disclosure over (dot)Africa gTLD matters, aptantech.com
  17. ↑ [2]
  18. ↑ [3]
  19. ↑ AfTLD takes on .africa
  20. ↑ AfTLD concludes a successful annual concludes a successful annual African ccTLD event in Accra
  21. ↑ ARC Executive Summary
  22. ↑ [[4]]
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