Changes

===AUC Retracts Endorsement===

===AUC Retracts Endorsement===

The African Union Commission issued a statement on May 12, 2011 retracting the statement of endorsement issued by Chairman Jean Ping to DCA. The AUC explained that during the Member States meeting, the African Union Ministers in charge of Communications and Information Technologies decided to allow competition among organizations interested in sponsoring and operating the .africa TLD. '''There is no evidence of such statement by AUC)''' The AUC also 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, 2011 retracting the statement of endorsement issued by Chairman Jean Ping to DCA. The AUC explained that during the Member States meeting, the African Union Ministers in charge of Communications and Information Technologies decided to allow competition among organizations interested in sponsoring and operating the .africa TLD. The AUC also 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 retraction statement and its 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," because the  Commission failed 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 retraction statement and its 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," because the  Commission failed 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>