Changes

Since some of the key people involved in the competing proposals for DotAfrica had also organized themselves into a Taskforce<ref> [http://www.scribd.com/doc/41348134/Document-1B-BCEC Document 1B: BCEC- List of Contributors to the Dotafrica.org proposal.]</ref> to advise and guide the AU on matters regarding the DotAfrica gTLD. DCA also undertook concerted ‘No Campaigns’ against the individuals in the Task Force and the Task Force itself.<ref>[http://www.dotconnectafrica.org/yes-campaign/vote-no/vote-no-for-dandjinou/ Vote No to Pierre Danjinou]</ref><ref>[ http://www.dotconnectafrica.org/yes-campaign/vote-no/vote-nii-quaynor/ Vote No to Nii Quaynor]</ref><ref>[ http://www.dotconnectafrica.org/yes-campaign/vote-no/vote-no-to-aftld/  Vote No to AFTLD]</ref> The AU DotAfrica Task Force drew its membership from different organizations representing the African Internet community. <ref>[ http://www.scribd.com/doc/42164360/Document-BCEC-1B-dotafrica-communique DotAfrica Task Force.]</ref>.  Since DCA was not included in the AU Task Force, it saw it as not only unrepresentative, but saw its members as a ‘Cabal’ whose only interest was to hijack DotAfrica for its benefit. <ref>[http://archive.constantcontact.com/fs053/1102516344150/archive/1107431408048.html  Say "No" to the CABAL (special-interest coalitions) that is trying to hijack DotAfrica!]</ref>.  DCA further argued that since the Task Force members could not be relied upon to provide impartial advice to the AU, they were guilty of <big><i>Conflict of Interest</i></big> since they were affiliated to many other organizations in addition to affiliations to African ccTLDs,<ref>[http://domainincite.com/3796-competition-for-africa-heats-up Competition for .africa heats up.]</ref><ref>[ http://www.ethiopianreview.com/articles/35281 DCA to challenge AfTLD on dotAfrica domain.]</ref> including having floated separate DotAfrica proposals of their own<ref> [http://www.scribd.com/doc/41348134/Document-1B-BCEC Document 1B: BCEC- List of Contributors to the Dotafrica.org proposal.]</ref>  As such, DCA believed that the Task Force or Cabal was not independent and could not be considered legitimate.

Since some of the key people involved in the competing proposals for DotAfrica had also organized themselves into a Taskforce<ref> [http://www.scribd.com/doc/41348134/Document-1B-BCEC Document 1B: BCEC- List of Contributors to the Dotafrica.org proposal.]</ref> to advise and guide the AU on matters regarding the DotAfrica gTLD. DCA also undertook concerted ‘No Campaigns’ against the individuals in the Task Force and the Task Force itself.<ref>[http://www.dotconnectafrica.org/yes-campaign/vote-no/vote-no-for-dandjinou/ Vote No to Pierre Danjinou]</ref><ref>[ http://www.dotconnectafrica.org/yes-campaign/vote-no/vote-nii-quaynor/ Vote No to Nii Quaynor]</ref><ref>[ http://www.dotconnectafrica.org/yes-campaign/vote-no/vote-no-to-aftld/  Vote No to AFTLD]</ref> The AU DotAfrica Task Force drew its membership from different organizations representing the African Internet community. <ref>[ http://www.scribd.com/doc/42164360/Document-BCEC-1B-dotafrica-communique DotAfrica Task Force.]</ref>.  Since DCA was not included in the AU Task Force, it saw it as not only unrepresentative, but saw its members as a ‘Cabal’ whose only interest was to hijack DotAfrica for its benefit. <ref>[http://archive.constantcontact.com/fs053/1102516344150/archive/1107431408048.html  Say "No" to the CABAL (special-interest coalitions) that is trying to hijack DotAfrica!]</ref>.  DCA further argued that since the Task Force members could not be relied upon to provide impartial advice to the AU, they were guilty of <big><i>Conflict of Interest</i></big> since they were affiliated to many other organizations in addition to affiliations to African ccTLDs,<ref>[http://domainincite.com/3796-competition-for-africa-heats-up Competition for .africa heats up.]</ref><ref>[ http://www.ethiopianreview.com/articles/35281 DCA to challenge AfTLD on dotAfrica domain.]</ref> including having floated separate DotAfrica proposals of their own<ref> [http://www.scribd.com/doc/41348134/Document-1B-BCEC Document 1B: BCEC- List of Contributors to the Dotafrica.org proposal.]</ref>  As such, DCA believed that the Task Force or Cabal was not independent and could not be considered legitimate.

<big><i>No Campaign Against AfTLD:</i></big>

<big><i>No Campaign Against Africa Top Level Domains Organization (AFTLD):</i></big>

The rivalry between DCA and [[AfTLD]] to gain the endorsement of the African Union Commission to serve as the operator and sponsoring organization of the DotAfrica gTLD turned nasty. DCA has alleged that the AfTLD is corrupt and is using double dealing to unfairly get the endorsement from AUC, as members of AFTLD are also part of the AU DotAfrica Taskforce, who were in charge of making the selection. In response, AfTLD claimed that DCA is using intimidation tactics. When the African Union announced that a Task Force was created and delegated to choose the right organization to be endorsed by the AUC for the DotAfrica project, DCA reacted negatively and accused that the Task Force was "established in order to disingenuously facilitate insider help for AfTLD’s Expression of Interest to the AU and prospective bid to ICANN." In addition, DCA claimed that some of the members of the Task Force including [[Pierre Dandjinou]] and [[Nii Quaynor]] are "advisors and confederates of AfTLD," and strongly emphasized that their ties are "unwholesome and foster corruption, nepotism, abuse of office, and large-scale illegality." Furthermore, DCA launched a campaign against Nii Quaynor.<ref>[http://domainincite.com/corruption-claims-as-africa-fight-heats-up/ “Corruption” claims as .africa fight heats up]</ref><ref>[http://www.pctechmagazine.com/Communique_on_DotAfrica_08Nov2010_v2.pdf “Dot .AFRICA gTLD PROJECT : BRANDING THE AFRICAN CONTINENT ON THE CYBERSPACE AND PROVIDING AFRICAN COMMUNITY WITH A CONTINENTAL MARK ON THE INTERNET”]</ref><ref>[http://www.dotconnectafrica.org/2011/05/dca%E2%80%99s-exclusive-commentary-aftld-pr-ghana-meeting/ DCA’s Exclusive Commentary to the AfTLD PR following the Ghana Meeting]</ref><ref>[http://archive.constantcontact.com/fs053/1102516344150/archive/1104994724388.html Say "No" to Nii Quaynor, Vice Chair of African Union ".africa" Taskforce]</ref>

The rivalry between DCA and [[AfTLD]] to gain the endorsement of the African Union Commission to serve as the operator and sponsoring organization of the DotAfrica gTLD turned nasty. DCA has alleged that the AfTLD is corrupt and is using double dealing to unfairly get the endorsement from AUC, as members of AFTLD are also part of the AU DotAfrica Taskforce, who were in charge of making the selection. In response, AfTLD claimed that DCA is using intimidation tactics. When the African Union announced that a Task Force was created and delegated to choose the right organization to be endorsed by the AUC for the DotAfrica project, DCA reacted negatively and accused that the Task Force was "established in order to disingenuously facilitate insider help for AfTLD’s Expression of Interest to the AU and prospective bid to ICANN." In addition, DCA claimed that some of the members of the Task Force including [[Pierre Dandjinou]] and [[Nii Quaynor]] are "advisors and confederates of AfTLD," and strongly emphasized that their ties are "unwholesome and foster corruption, nepotism, abuse of office, and large-scale illegality." Furthermore, DCA launched a campaign against Nii Quaynor.<ref>[http://domainincite.com/corruption-claims-as-africa-fight-heats-up/ “Corruption” claims as .africa fight heats up]</ref><ref>[http://www.pctechmagazine.com/Communique_on_DotAfrica_08Nov2010_v2.pdf “Dot .AFRICA gTLD PROJECT : BRANDING THE AFRICAN CONTINENT ON THE CYBERSPACE AND PROVIDING AFRICAN COMMUNITY WITH A CONTINENTAL MARK ON THE INTERNET”]</ref><ref>[http://www.dotconnectafrica.org/2011/05/dca%E2%80%99s-exclusive-commentary-aftld-pr-ghana-meeting/ DCA’s Exclusive Commentary to the AfTLD PR following the Ghana Meeting]</ref><ref>[http://archive.constantcontact.com/fs053/1102516344150/archive/1104994724388.html Say "No" to Nii Quaynor, Vice Chair of African Union ".africa" Taskforce]</ref>