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{{CompanyInfo|
 
{{CompanyInfo|
 
| logo            = DCA.JPG‎  
 
| logo            = DCA.JPG‎  
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| type            = Non-Profit, Non-Partisan, Independent
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| type            = Non-Profit
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| industry        = Internet, DNS
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| industry        = Internet
 
| founded        =
 
| founded        =
 
| founders        = Sophia Bekele
 
| founders        = Sophia Bekele
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| linkedin        =  
 
| linkedin        =  
 
| twitter        =  
 
| twitter        =  
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| keypeople      = <ul><li>[[Sophia Bekele]], Founder & CEO</li>
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| keypeople      = [[Sophia Bekele]], Founder & Executive Director
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                        <li>Gavin Brown Chief Technical Officer</li>
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                        <li> Julius Maina Chief Finance Officer</li>
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                        <li> Dev R. Erriah Corporate Council</li>
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                        <li> Kim Gueho Trust Fund Manager</li>
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                        <li> Barry Ryan, Corporate Relations</li>
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                        <li> Yassin Mashana Vice Chair Strategic Advisory Board</li></ul>
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}}
 
}}
    
'''DotConnectAfrica (DCA)''' is a not-for-profit, non-partisan organization that has its base of operation in Nairobi, Kenya and headquartered in I/F River Court 6th Denis Street Port Louis, Mauritius, Africa.  Its main objective is to sponsor, establish and operate the proposed new Top Level Domain (TLD) [[.africa]], pronounced as dotAfrica that will cater for the needs of the African and Pan-African constituency and also to address the lack of adequate internet policy in Africa. DCA is well represented in Addis Ababa Ethiopia, South Africa, London United Kingdom, and California, USA. <ref>[http://www.dotconnectafrica.org/about/ About DCA]</ref>
 
'''DotConnectAfrica (DCA)''' is a not-for-profit, non-partisan organization that has its base of operation in Nairobi, Kenya and headquartered in I/F River Court 6th Denis Street Port Louis, Mauritius, Africa.  Its main objective is to sponsor, establish and operate the proposed new Top Level Domain (TLD) [[.africa]], pronounced as dotAfrica that will cater for the needs of the African and Pan-African constituency and also to address the lack of adequate internet policy in Africa. DCA is well represented in Addis Ababa Ethiopia, South Africa, London United Kingdom, and California, USA. <ref>[http://www.dotconnectafrica.org/about/ About DCA]</ref>
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It is not the only applicant for [[.africa]], and the other applicant, [[Registry.Africa]], a subsidiary of [[UniForum SA]],  has received the support of the African Union (AU). As such, ICANN's [[GAC|Governmental Advisory Committee]] has consistently opposed DotConnectAfrica's application; issuing both an Early Warning and a full GAC objection. These are strong signals to the [[ICANN Board]] that the application should not be allowed to proceed towards implementation. Should the [[ICANN Board]] go against any GAC warnings it is required to explain its actions. DCA's .africa application was one of two applications to receive the full GAC objection in the body's first rulings on the topic, issued in its April 2013 Beijing Communiqué.<ref>[http://newgtlds.icann.org/en/applicants/gac-advice GAC Advice, NewgTLDs.ICANN.org]</ref><ref>[https://gacweb.icann.org/display/gacweb/Governmental+Advisory+Committee Beijing Communique Download, GACweb.ICANN.org]</ref>
 
==Mission==
 
==Mission==
 
DCA aims to accomplish the following missions:
 
DCA aims to accomplish the following missions:
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== Trust Programs ==
 
== Trust Programs ==
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DCA describes its Charitable objectives as "(a) for the advancement of education in information technology to the African society; and (b) in connection with (a) to provide the African society with a continental Internet domain name to have access to Internet services for the people of Africa as a purpose beneficial to the public in general."
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DCA has already undertaken successful initiatives under its Trust program which include the following:
 
DCA has already undertaken successful initiatives under its Trust program which include the following:
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DCA was founded in 2008 by [[Sophia Bekele]], who serves as Executive Director of the organization. Her intent, by supporting the .africa initiative, is to remove the internet policy divides in the African Region, and to support the region in catching up with the innovations of the worldwide Internet and Communications Technology industry. In 2009, the organization began its campaign to gather support for the .africa initiative by conducting forums in different universities and international conferences, among which were the Golden Gate University, UC Berkeley, Stanford University, Sacramento State University, the World Summit on the Information Society ([[WSIS]]), the United Nations Development of Economics & Social Affairs (UNDESA) and the United Nations Public Administration Network (UNPAN).<ref>[http://archive.constantcontact.com/fs053/1102516344150/archive/1103791866869.html The DotAfrica Issue, Thoughts from the Founder/Executive Director]</ref>
 
DCA was founded in 2008 by [[Sophia Bekele]], who serves as Executive Director of the organization. Her intent, by supporting the .africa initiative, is to remove the internet policy divides in the African Region, and to support the region in catching up with the innovations of the worldwide Internet and Communications Technology industry. In 2009, the organization began its campaign to gather support for the .africa initiative by conducting forums in different universities and international conferences, among which were the Golden Gate University, UC Berkeley, Stanford University, Sacramento State University, the World Summit on the Information Society ([[WSIS]]), the United Nations Development of Economics & Social Affairs (UNDESA) and the United Nations Public Administration Network (UNPAN).<ref>[http://archive.constantcontact.com/fs053/1102516344150/archive/1103791866869.html The DotAfrica Issue, Thoughts from the Founder/Executive Director]</ref>
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The proposal to develop the DotAfrica TLD was first introduced by Sophia Bekele to the African Members of the [[ICANN Board]] in 2006 <ref>[http://www.prlog.org/10916169-dotconnectafrica-lauched-its-official-africa-campaign-at-the-aitec-ict-summit.html DotConnectAfrica lauched its official ".africa" campaign at the AITEC ICT Summit]</ref>, and different African organizations of the ICANN community during the [[ICANN 28]] meeting in Lisbon, Portugal in 2007<ref>[http://www.slideshare.net/Nyosef/dotafrica Africa's Map in Digital Inclusion Presention to ICANN, Lisbon Canada]</ref>. 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. Bekele argued that the initiative 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>
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The proposal to develop the DotAfrica TLD was first introduced by Sophia Bekele to the African Members of the [[ICANN Board]] and 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. Bekele argued that the initiative 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>
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During the [[ICANN 32]] International ICANN Public Meeting in Paris France, Bekele officially announced her bid 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 meeting in Paris France]</ref>
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During the [[ICANN 32]] International ICANN Public Meeting, Bekele officially announced her bid 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>
    
==Endorsements to DCA==
 
==Endorsements to DCA==
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The organization received endorsement and support from the African Union Commission ([[AUC]]) through its Chairman, Jean Ping, on August 27, 2009. Ping expressed that the AUC was willing to assist DCA in the coordination the DotAfrica initiative with African ministers and governments.<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, Amina Salima, head of the African Union Mission in Washington, also supported DCA’s DotAfrica initiative. Salima said, "one of the objectives of the African Union Mission in the USA is to mobilize the African Diaspora efforts. Towards this end, the AU mission would like to express support for the .africa initiative."  Abdoulie Janneh, UN under-secretary-general and Executive Secretary of the United Nations Economic Commission of Africa (UNECA), also sent a letter of endorsement to DCA <ref>[http://www.scribd.com/doc/31566444/Economic-Commission-for-Africa-ECA-Endorsment-of-DotConnectAfrica United Nations Economic Commission of Africa (UNECA) Endorsement of the Dot Africa (.africa) Initiative]</ref> stating the following: "I write to express my support on behalf of ECA. This is a worthwhile initiative that will contribute substantially to helping Africa bridge the digital divide. It will certainly help the continent to derive similar benefits from the successful experience from the European Union which has the .eu domain and that of Asia with its .asia domain.” <ref>[http://www.scribd.com/doc/47402645/endorsement-letter-from-corporate-council-on-africa-cca-to-dotconnectafrica Corporate Council Of Africa (CCA) Endorsement of the Dot Africa (.africa) Initiative]</ref> Other high-ranking officials from different  governments in Africa also supported DCA's initiative.<ref>[http://www.prlog.org/10497979-african-union-endorses-the-domain-name-africa-to-dotconnectafrica-organization.html African Union endorses the domain name “.Africa” to DotConnectAfrica Organization]</ref> During the [[ICANN 37]] Meeting at Nairobi, Kenya in 2010, the members of the Nairobi technical community who attended the public forum also expressed their support to DCA.<ref>
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The organization received endorsement and support from the African Union Commission ([[AUC]]) through its Chairman, Jean Ping, on August 27, 2009. Ping expressed that the AUC was willing to assist DCA in the coordination the DotAfrica initiative with African ministers and governments.<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, Amina Salima, head of the African Union Mission in Washington, also supported DCA’s DotAfrica initiative. Salima said, "one of the objectives of the African Union Mission in the USA is to mobilize the African Diaspora efforts. Towards this end, the AU mission would like to express support for the .africa initiative."  Abdoulie Janneh, UN under-secretary-general and Executive Secretary of the Economic Commission of Africa (ECA), also sent a letter of endorsement to DCA stating the following: "I write to express my support on behalf of ECA. This is a worthwhile initiative that will contribute substantially to helping Africa bridge the digital divide. It will certainly help the continent to derive similar benefits from the successful experience from the European Union which has the .eu domain and that of Asia with its .asia domain.” Other high-ranking officials from different  governments in Africa also supported DCA's initiative.<ref>[http://www.prlog.org/10497979-african-union-endorses-the-domain-name-africa-to-dotconnectafrica-organization.html African Union endorses the domain name “.Africa” to DotConnectAfrica Organization]</ref> During the [[ICANN 37]] Meeting at Nairobi, Kenya in 2010, the members of the Nairobi technical community who attended the public forum also expressed their support to DCA.<ref>
 
[http://www.prlog.org/10609436-nairobi-technical-community-urged-icanns-strong-support-for-dcas-efforts-on-africa-domain.html Nairobi Technical Community urged ICANN's strong support for DCA's efforts on '.africa' domain!]</ref>
 
[http://www.prlog.org/10609436-nairobi-technical-community-urged-icanns-strong-support-for-dcas-efforts-on-africa-domain.html Nairobi Technical Community urged ICANN's strong support for DCA's efforts on '.africa' domain!]</ref>
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DCA’s early global campaign and promotional work for DotAfrica has put the .africa TLD on the global TLD map.<ref>[http://www.prlog.org/10803421-progress-towards-africa-at-icann-38-in-brussels-the-capital-of-europe.htmls Progress towards a ".africa" at ICANN 38, in Brussels the Capital of Europe]</ref> In readiness for the important task of applying for a geographic TLD with the hope of operating the resulting gTLD registry (if the application to ICANN is successful), DCA has taken an avid interest in the Internet Domain Name Industry and has been an active participant at ICANN for several years - not only following developments within the industry, but also attending international ICANN meetings on a regular basis.   
 
DCA’s early global campaign and promotional work for DotAfrica has put the .africa TLD on the global TLD map.<ref>[http://www.prlog.org/10803421-progress-towards-africa-at-icann-38-in-brussels-the-capital-of-europe.htmls Progress towards a ".africa" at ICANN 38, in Brussels the Capital of Europe]</ref> In readiness for the important task of applying for a geographic TLD with the hope of operating the resulting gTLD registry (if the application to ICANN is successful), DCA has taken an avid interest in the Internet Domain Name Industry and has been an active participant at ICANN for several years - not only following developments within the industry, but also attending international ICANN meetings on a regular basis.   
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DCA is fully supportive of ICANN, and its new gTLD programme objectives. DCA has also sponsored several ICANN meetings, notably in Brussels in 2008<ref>[http://www.prlog.org/10803421-progress-towards-africa-at-icann-38-in-brussels-the-capital-of-europe.htmls Progress towards a ".africa" at ICANN 38, in Brussels the Capital of Europe]</ref> making it the first African organization to ever sponsor an ICANN international event and in Dakar, Senegal in 2011.<ref>[http://www.prlog.org/11673176-dotconnectafrica-icann-42-dakar-meet-the-yes2dotafrica-campaign-in-senegal.html ICANN 42 Dakar: Meet the Yes2dotAfrica Campaign in Senegal]</ref>
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DCA is fully supportive of ICANN, and its new gTLD programme objectives. DCA has also sponsored several ICANN meetings, notably in Brussels in 2008<ref>[http://www.prlog.org/10803421-progress-towards-africa-at-icann-38-in-brussels-the-capital-of-europe.htmls Progress towards a ".africa" at ICANN 38, in Brussels the Capital of Europe]</ref> and in Dakar, Senegal in 2011.<ref>[http://www.prlog.org/11673176-dotconnectafrica-icann-42-dakar-meet-the-yes2dotafrica-campaign-in-senegal.html ICANN 42 Dakar: Meet the Yes2dotAfrica Campaign in Senegal]</ref>
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Its spearhead, Ms. Sophia Bekele has undertaken important policy-level work at [[ICANN]] as a gNSO Council member from 2005 to 2007 <ref>[http://www.icann.org/en/news/announcements/announcement-04nov05-en.htm Sophia Bekele GNSO Council ICANN]</ref> and participated in the new gTLD policy development process (PDP).  She led the global promotional campaign for DotAfrica visiting various countries within the continent to sensitize various publics to help build consensus on the need and overall desirability of DotAfrica.<ref>[http://www.prlog.org/10918770-dotconnectafrica-provides-keynote-address-for-aitec-east-africa-ict-summit.html DotConnectAfrica at AITEC Nairobi]</ref><ref>[http://www.prlog.org/10690505-africa-at-aitec-west-africa.html ".Africa" at AITEC Lagos Nigeria in West Africa]</ref> She also provided a written letter of support of the ICANN new gTLD programme to the U.S. National Technology & Information Administration (NTIA) of the United States Department of Commerce to ensure official top-level U.S. governmental support for the ICANN new gTLD programme initiative in Washington D.C. which is required for its global and unconditional success.<ref>[http://archive.constantcontact.com/fs053/1102516344150/archive/1104224678384.html Open Letter to US Department of Commerce National Telecommunication Information Administration (NTIA)  in support of teh ICANN New gTLD Programme and making a preliminary case for the .africa gTLD]</ref> In 2012, she also wrote an. Open Letter to US Congress to Express Support in Defense of the Status Quo on Global Internet Governance Model and Reaffirmation of the Multistakeholder Process<ref>[http://archive.constantcontact.com/fs053/1102516344150/archive/1104224678384.html Open Letter to US Department of Commerce National Telecommunication Information Administration (NTIA)  in support of teh ICANN New gTLD Programme and making a preliminary case for the .africa gTLD]</ref>
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Its spearhead, Ms. Sophia Bekele has undertaken important policy-level work at [[ICANN]] as a gNSO Council member from 2005 to 2007 and participated in the new gTLD policy development process (PDP).  She led the global promotional campaign for DotAfrica visiting various countries within the continent to sensitive various publics to help build consensus on the need and overall desirability of DotAfrica. She also provided a written letter of support of the ICANN new gTLD programme to the U.S. National Technology & Information Administration (NTIA) of the United States Department of Commerce to ensure official top-level U.S. governmental support for the ICANN new gTLD programme initiative in Washington D.C. which is required for its global and unconditional success.<ref>[http://archive.constantcontact.com/fs053/1102516344150/archive/1104224678384.html Open Letter to US Department of Commerce National Telecommunication Information Administration (NTIA)  in support of teh ICANN New gTLD Programme and making a preliminary case for the .africa gTLD]</ref> In 2012, she also wrote an. Open Letter to US Congress to Express Support in Defense of the Status Quo on Global Internet Governance Model and Reaffirmation of the Multistakeholder Process<ref>[http://archive.constantcontact.com/fs053/1102516344150/archive/1104224678384.html Open Letter to US Department of Commerce National Telecommunication Information Administration (NTIA)  in support of teh ICANN New gTLD Programme and making a preliminary case for the .africa gTLD]</ref>
    
Concurrently, DCA launched a global promotional campaign establishing itself as lead and spearheading the [[.africa]] project under a <big><i>Yes2dotAfrica Campaign.</i></big> <ref>[http://archive.constantcontact.com/fs053/1102516344150/archive/1107084740992.html Be part of our Yes2dotAfrica Campaign,2009-12-09]</ref>
 
Concurrently, DCA launched a global promotional campaign establishing itself as lead and spearheading the [[.africa]] project under a <big><i>Yes2dotAfrica Campaign.</i></big> <ref>[http://archive.constantcontact.com/fs053/1102516344150/archive/1107084740992.html Be part of our Yes2dotAfrica Campaign,2009-12-09]</ref>
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The African Union Commission issued a statement on May 12, 2010, referencing the endorsement letter issued by by Chairman Jean Ping to DCA, and stated that they would work with ICANN and other internet stakeholders to go through an open process to determine the implementation of .africa.  After the AU organized a DotAfrica Task Force, then the Task Force issued another letter a year after the prior, stating that the AU 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, 2010, referencing the endorsement letter issued by by Chairman Jean Ping to DCA, and stated that they would work with ICANN and other internet stakeholders to go through an open process to determine the implementation of .africa.  After the AU organized a DotAfrica Task Force, then the Task Force issued another letter a year after the prior, stating that the AU 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>  
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DCA criticized AUC's 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," as the letter they issues references the previous endorsement issued to DCA, however fails 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>
    
<big><i>DCA's response to the AU retraction and the conflict that arose:</i></big>
 
<big><i>DCA's response to the AU retraction and the conflict that arose:</i></big>
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During the [[IGF|Internet Governance Forum]] in Kenya on July 29, 2010, DCA urged participants to support its .africa application. According to her, "After the high level endorsements we received as per the application, we are now in the process of reaching out to the technical community to gain support based on the merit and the benefits of the initiative, and hoping that such forums as IGF would create a neutral platform for debate and raising issues with the .africa domain name and internet governance." She also said that the DCA governance model is based on the Kenya Network Information Center's ([[KeNIC]]) multi-stakeholder model.<ref>
 
During the [[IGF|Internet Governance Forum]] in Kenya on July 29, 2010, DCA urged participants to support its .africa application. According to her, "After the high level endorsements we received as per the application, we are now in the process of reaching out to the technical community to gain support based on the merit and the benefits of the initiative, and hoping that such forums as IGF would create a neutral platform for debate and raising issues with the .africa domain name and internet governance." She also said that the DCA governance model is based on the Kenya Network Information Center's ([[KeNIC]]) multi-stakeholder model.<ref>
 
[http://www.prlog.org/10810259-dotconnnectafrica-calls-for-support-of-africa-at-kenya-internet-governance-forum-igf.html DotConnnectAfrica calls for support of ".africa" at Kenya Internet Governance Forum (IGF)]</ref>
 
[http://www.prlog.org/10810259-dotconnnectafrica-calls-for-support-of-africa-at-kenya-internet-governance-forum-igf.html DotConnnectAfrica calls for support of ".africa" at Kenya Internet Governance Forum (IGF)]</ref>
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==DCA Opposes Reserve Names by AU==
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DCA also went ahead to draw its voice against the reservation <ref>[http://rogue.su/internet-war-scramble-for-africa/ Dot Africa soap]</ref>. of the names .africa ,.afrique and .afriqya , suggestions that had been forwarded after a ministerial round table that preceded the Senegal ICANN meeting. The Addition of these names to ICANNs reserved list would have jeopardized the .Africa applications in the current new gTLD opening.<ref>[http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=9bRq1QTQVkg”/ DCA Defends its Opposition to the Experts Meeting Agenda of the DotAfrica Task Force]</ref>.
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The reservation of these names would have meant that all the applications of the .africa gTLD would have been annulled , however in a response ICANN officials promised to follow the Applicants Guide Book to the later in making all the decisions that would affect any new prospective gTLD. ICANN responded<ref>[http://www.icann.org/en/news/correspondence/crocker-to-ibrahim-08mar12-en Letter from Steve Crocker to Elham M.A. Ibrahim]</ref> to the Communique presented by the officials of the Pre-Senegal Ministerial roundtable, eventually the names were not reserved .
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Africa presented 17 applications and dotafrica was among them.
    
== Application to ICANN ==
 
== Application to ICANN ==
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==Controversies over Wikipedia Sites==
 
==Controversies over Wikipedia Sites==
 
In October 2012, DCA published a press release saying that their Wikipedia sites willfully sabotaged. Entries on DCA, .africa, and Sophia Bekele, the Executive Director of DotAfrica, were changed. According to DCA, some information that had been unmodified for over five years were removed from Wikipedia and replaced by new versions where DCA's involvement with .africa, DCA's working history, and Bekele's credentials were downplayed.<ref>[http://www.dotconnectafrica.org/2012/10/sabotage-of-our-wikipedia-sites/ Sabotage of Our Wikipedia Sites]. Published 2012 October 1. Retrieved 2012 November 13.</ref>
 
In October 2012, DCA published a press release saying that their Wikipedia sites willfully sabotaged. Entries on DCA, .africa, and Sophia Bekele, the Executive Director of DotAfrica, were changed. According to DCA, some information that had been unmodified for over five years were removed from Wikipedia and replaced by new versions where DCA's involvement with .africa, DCA's working history, and Bekele's credentials were downplayed.<ref>[http://www.dotconnectafrica.org/2012/10/sabotage-of-our-wikipedia-sites/ Sabotage of Our Wikipedia Sites]. Published 2012 October 1. Retrieved 2012 November 13.</ref>
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==No Campaigns of DotConnectAfrica on .africa==
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==No Campaign (DotAfrica) ‘NoCampaign.africa’==
 
No Campaign DotAfrica was a concentrated e-mail based protest effort that was undertaken by the Yes2DotAfrica campaign, an initiative of the DotConnectAfrica Organization (DCA) ostensibly to counter the perceived threat posed to DCA’s standing and prospective application to ICANN for the new DotAfrica generic Top Level Domain (gTLD).  The No Campaign featured high drama and ran from 2010 and peaked in the fall of 2011, when DCA circulated many No Campaigns to its readers.  <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><ref>[ http://archive.constantcontact.com/fs053/1102516344150/archive/1105649721626.html Say "No" to African Union "EOI"]</ref><ref>[ http://www.dotconnectafrica.org/yes-campaign/vote-no/african-registry-consortium/  Say "No" to African Registry Consortium (ARC)]</ref><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 Say "No" to African Registry Consortium (ARC)]</ref><ref>[http://archive.constantcontact.com/fs053/1102516344150/archive/1108683982073.html Vote No to Africa Union RFP]</ref>
 
No Campaign DotAfrica was a concentrated e-mail based protest effort that was undertaken by the Yes2DotAfrica campaign, an initiative of the DotConnectAfrica Organization (DCA) ostensibly to counter the perceived threat posed to DCA’s standing and prospective application to ICANN for the new DotAfrica generic Top Level Domain (gTLD).  The No Campaign featured high drama and ran from 2010 and peaked in the fall of 2011, when DCA circulated many No Campaigns to its readers.  <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><ref>[ http://archive.constantcontact.com/fs053/1102516344150/archive/1105649721626.html Say "No" to African Union "EOI"]</ref><ref>[ http://www.dotconnectafrica.org/yes-campaign/vote-no/african-registry-consortium/  Say "No" to African Registry Consortium (ARC)]</ref><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 Say "No" to African Registry Consortium (ARC)]</ref><ref>[http://archive.constantcontact.com/fs053/1102516344150/archive/1108683982073.html Vote No to Africa Union RFP]</ref>
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<big><i>NO Campaign against the AU Task Force:</i></big>
 
<big><i>NO Campaign against the AU Task Force:</i></big>
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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 Africa Top Level Domains Organization (AFTLD):</i></big>
 
<big><i>NO Campaign against Africa Top Level Domains Organization (AFTLD):</i></big>
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AfTLD had initially sought the mandate from the African Union to run the .africa registry but changed later to seek a fresh endorsement even though DotConnectAfrica had already been endorsed.  ref <ref> [http://archive.constantcontact.com/fs053/1102516344150/archive/1105453989773.html DCA's Exclusive Commentary to the AfTLD Press Release following the Ghana Meeting]</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]],[[Nii Quaynor]] and Mr. Kwok Vee Kong Kem Yen 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 No 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>
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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>
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<big><i>NO Campaign against AU Expression of Interest (EOI) for .africa:</i></big>
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DCA criticized AUC's 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," as the letter they issues references the previous endorsement issued to DCA, however fails 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>
     −
<big><i>No Campaign against African Registry Consortium (ARC):</i></big>
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==Objection to DCA Application==
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While DCA was engaged in its fights with the AU DotAfrica Task Force and the AfTLD, another prospective applicant for DotAfrica, the African Registry Consortium (ARC), appeared on the horizon. <ref>[ http://archive.constantcontact.com/fs053/1102516344150/archive/1108039247315.html  Vote No to African Registry Consortium]</ref> This organization was new, and had done no promotional work whatsoever on DotAfrica. The ARC did not seem to be a community effort and had not also campaigned for DotAfrica and was generally seen as a late entrant.  The ARC quickly allied itself with the AfTLD with the purpose of obtaining an expression of Interest from the AfTLDas an African-based registry operator, with an African backend operator, <ref>[ http://www.itnewsafrica.com/2011/08/africa-may-get-its-own-domain-name/  African Registry Consortium]</ref>  and cited its affiliations to Uniforum SA, the operator of the DotCoDotZa.  It would appear that the ARC made its calculation of seeking an alliance with AfTLD because it thought the AfTLD had the upper hand and was most likely going to receive the endorsement from the African Union. This exposed the ARC to accusations of business opportunism by DCA since ARC only entered the debate after ICANN had approved the new gTLD programme in July 2011, and was trying to use AfTLD as a crutch in order to gain wide community acceptance in order to obtain an endorsement which it had not worked for <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  Say no to  African Registry Consortium (ARC)]</ref>  This formed the basis of a No Campaign against the ARC which DCA accused of: business opportunism, not having the technical credentials to boast of a world-class registry that DotAfrica required; and ARC’s potential as a BEE scamming operation, even as DCA insinuated that the financial resources of new-moneyed venture capitalist was being lined up to enable them gain control of DotAfrica (that is, on a highest bidder basis). <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  Say no to  African Registry Consortium (ARC)]</ref>  <ref>[ http://domainincite.com/5243-beware-the-new-gtld-cuckoos Beware the new gTLD cuckoos]</ref> 
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<big><i>The Case of Three Strange Bed-fellows:</i></big>
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Following the entrance of the AfTLD and the ARC, it was widely perceived that there would be three other prospective applicants for DotAfrica,  <ref>[http://nationalmirroronline.net/new/exploring-the-africa-domain/  Exploring the .Africa domain]</ref> namely dotafrica.org, AfTLD and ARC, in addition to DCA. Against the backdrop that none of these organizations had any endorsement for DotAfrica, DCA thought that these organizations were not in a position to apply for DotAfrica.  DCA dismissed them as ‘promiscuous strange bed-fellows’ that faced very difficult obstacles.  DCA saw dotafrica.org as moribund,  <ref>[http://archive.constantcontact.com/fs053/1102516344150/archive/1107431408048.html Say NO to DotAfrica CABAL]</ref>  ARC as running a stale campaign that was likened to a fool’s errand,  <ref>[http://archive.constantcontact.com/fs053/1102516344150/archive/1106696043739.html Say no to ARC]</ref> and AfTLD as having questionable legal ownership  <ref>[http://archive.constantcontact.com/fs053/1102516344150/archive/1107431408048.html Say NO to DotAfrica CABAL]</ref> which exposed it to possible disqualification if subjected to proper due diligence since the African ccTLDs it claimed to represent were not its actual owners. This particular No Campaign by DCA that brought all three organizations together and associated them as strange bed-fellows engaged in promiscuous (illegal) behavior proved to be very effective. <ref>[ http://archive.constantcontact.com/fs053/1102516344150/archive/1107431408048.html Say NO to DotAfrica CABAL]</ref>   
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<big><i>DCA Opposes Reserve Names by AU:</i></big>
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One outcome of the African Agenda that emanated from the Experts Meeting and the African Ministerial Round-Table was the proposal to include DotAfrica, DotAfrique, DotAfriqiyah, and similar name strings in any language in the List of Top-Level Reserved Names for the benefit of the African Union in order to make these names unavailable to any other prospective applicant during the new gTLD applications round. <ref>[www.icann.org/en/news/correspondence/african-union-communique-21oct11-en.pdf Dakar Communique – ICANN Areas for Engagement]</ref> 
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The idea behind the extraordinary proposal was to reserve the names so as to enable the African Union benefit from the special legislative protection this would offer the inter-governmental organization, thereby giving it the leverage to separately negotiate and delegate the DotAfrica gTLD name string outside the ICANN new gTLD programme. This would put the power of determining the very future of DotAfrica outside the official purview and oversight of ICANN; and give the AU Commission additional powers on top of what it already has as a key endorser of the DotAfrica geographical TLD.
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DCA therefore went ahead to draw its voice against the reservation <ref>[http://rogue.su/internet-war-scramble-for-africa/ Dot Africa soap]</ref>. of the names .africa ,.afrique and .afriqya , suggestions that had been forwarded after a ministerial round table that preceded the Senegal ICANN meeting. The Addition of these names to ICANNs reserved list would have jeopardized the .Africa applications in the current new gTLD opening.<ref>[http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=9bRq1QTQVkg”/ DCA Defends its Opposition to the Experts Meeting Agenda of the DotAfrica Task Force]</ref>.
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The reservation of these names would have meant that all the applications of the .africa gTLD would have been annulled , however in a response ICANN officials promised to follow the Applicants Guide Book to the later in making all the decisions that would affect any new prospective gTLD. ICANN responded<ref>[http://www.icann.org/en/news/correspondence/crocker-to-ibrahim-08mar12-en Letter from Steve Crocker to Elham M.A. Ibrahim]</ref> to the Communique presented by the officials of the Pre-Senegal Ministerial roundtable, and eventually the names were not reserved .
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Africa presented 17 applications and dotafrica was among them.
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==DCA Objection to UNIFORUM ZACR Application to ICANN==
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In its official public comment to ICANN, DotConnectAfrica opposed the Uniforum application by stating to ICANN that there are many infractions and other illegitimate actions that they have committed contrary to the new gTLD program of ICANN. Therefore,
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it is anticipated that these comments will be made available to the ICANN Evaluation Panels performing the Initial Evaluation Reviews, and would be noted, verified and analyzed with a view to disqualifying or failing the UniForum application for .AFRICA gTLD string name.  DCA further stated that the pieces of evidence that they have presented is based on their assessment of the published parts of UniForum's application which they have cited in this document, coupled with other pubic communication and documents such as official Communiqué released by the African Union Commission or the AU RFP document that was publicly circulated. <ref>[http://archive.constantcontact.com/fs053/1102516344150/archive/1111021912009.html  Say no to  African Registry Consortium (ARC)]</ref>.
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<i>DCA's list of objections includes topics on four major areas</i> (1) Background Screening /Legal which include manifest inconsistencies in Uniforum's Mission & Purpose; <ref>[ https://gtldcomment.icann.org/comments-feedback/applicationcomment/commentdetails/6706?utm_source=Official+Public+Commentary+to+UNIFORUM%27s+Application+to+ICANN&utm_campaign=+DCA+Official+Public+Commentary+to+UNIFORUM%27s+Application+to+ICANN&utm_medium=archive  Manifest inconsistencies-Mission&Purpose]</ref> and that Oversight Role is given to Illegitimate Entity<ref>[https://gtldcomment.icann.org/comments-feedback/applicationcomment/commentdetails/6703?utm_source=Official+Public+Commentary+to+UNIFORUM%27s+Application+to+ICANN&utm_campaign=+DCA+Official+Public+Commentary+to+UNIFORUM%27s+Application+to+ICANN&utm_medium=archive Oversight Role to illegitimate Entity]</ref>;and has a crooked Legal & Executive Responsibility <ref>[https://gtldcomment.icann.org/applicationcomment/commentdetails/6702?utm_source=Official+Public+Commentary+to+UNIFORUM%27s+Application+to+ICANN&utm_campaign=+DCA+Official+Public+Commentary+to+UNIFORUM%27s+Application+to+ICANN&utm_medium=archive Crooked Legal & Executive Responsibility]</ref> . (2) Geographic Name Evaluation Panel/ Endorsement which stated the issues of UNIFORUM's Endorsement <ref>[ https://gtldcomment.icann.org/comments-feedback/applicationcomment/commentdetails/6704?utm_source=Official+Public+Commentary+to+UNIFORUM%27s+Application+to+ICANN&utm_campaign=+DCA+Official+Public+Commentary+to+UNIFORUM%27s+Application+to+ICANN&utm_medium=archive The issue of UNIFORUM Endorsement]</ref> ; that fact that AU Discouraged Competition for.Africa <ref>[https://gtldcomment.icann.org/comments-feedback/applicationcomment/commentdetails/6709?utm_source=Official+Public+Commentary+to+UNIFORUM%27s+Application+to+ICANN&utm_campaign=+DCA+Official+Public+Commentary+to+UNIFORUM%27s+Application+to+ICANN&utm_medium=archive AU Discouraged Competition for.Africa]</ref>  ;and that Uniforum's application is Not an African Community Application <ref>[https://gtldcomment.icann.org/applicationcomment/commentdetails/6701?utm_source=Official+Public+Commentary+to+UNIFORUM%27s+Application+to+ICANN&utm_campaign=+DCA+Official+Public+Commentary+to+UNIFORUM%27s+Application+to+ICANN&utm_medium=archive Not an African Community application]</ref>The section (3) refers to Legal Rights which asserted  that the AU Cannot Re-designate Registry Function <ref>[ https://gtldcomment.icann.org/applicationcomment/commentdetails/6701?utm_source=Official+Public+Commentary+to+UNIFORUM%27s+Application+to+ICANN&utm_campaign=+DCA+Official+Public+Commentary+to+UNIFORUM%27s+Application+to+ICANN&utm_medium=archive Not an African Community application]</ref>; AU DotAfrica Taskforce Violated Ethics <ref>[https://gtldcomment.icann.org/applicationcomment/commentdetails/6688?utm_source=Official+Public+Commentary+to+UNIFORUM%27s+Application+to+ICANN&utm_campaign=+DCA+Official+Public+Commentary+to+UNIFORUM%27s+Application+to+ICANN&utm_medium=archive AU Cannot Re-designate Registry Function]</ref>;
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Illegal Contract between AU and UNIFORUM  <ref>[https://gtldcomment.icann.org/applicationcomment/commentdetails/6688?utm_source=Official+Public+Commentary+to+UNIFORUM%27s+Application+to+ICANN&utm_campaign=+DCA+Official+Public+Commentary+to+UNIFORUM%27s+Application+to+ICANN&utm_medium=archive AU Cannot Re-designate Registry Function]</ref Illegal Contract between AU and UniForum]</ref>; and the  AU Cannot appoint Registry Operator <ref>[https://gtldcomment.icann.org/applicationcomment/commentdetails/6688?utm_source=Official+Public+Commentary+to+UNIFORUM%27s+Application+to+ICANN&utm_campaign=+DCA+Official+Public+Commentary+to+UNIFORUM%27s+Application+to+ICANN&utm_medium=archive AU Cannot Re-designate Registry Function]</ref Illegal Contract between AU and UniForum]</ref>;The area  on (4) deals with Financial Capability which reported Uniforum Understated Registry COI Amount <ref>[https://gtldcomment.icann.org/applicationcomment/commentdetails/6763?utm_source=Official+Public+Commentary+to+UNIFORUM%27s+Application+to+ICANN&utm_campaign=+DCA+Official+Public+Commentary+to+UNIFORUM%27s+Application+to+ICANN&utm_medium=archive Understated Registry COI Amount]</ref>  ;  and the  COI Not Enough for Critical Registry Function  <ref>[https://gtldcomment.icann.org/applicationcomment/commentdetails/6764?utm_source=Official+Public+Commentary+to+UNIFORUM%27s+Application+to+ICANN&utm_campaign=+DCA+Official+Public+Commentary+to+UNIFORUM%27s+Application+to+ICANN&utm_medium=archive COI Not Enough for Critical Registry Funds]</ref> ;and that changing the Unit Selling Price of Domain Names is against rules of fair competition :<ref>[https://gtldcomment.icann.org/applicationcomment/commentdetails/6652?utm_source=Official+Public+Commentary+to+UNIFORUM%27s+Application+to+ICANN&utm_campaign=+DCA+Official+Public+Commentary+to+UNIFORUM%27s+Application+to+ICANN&utm_medium=archive On Unit Selling Price of Domain Names]</ref>and that there is Possible Conflict in Business Model Names  <ref>[https://gtldcomment.icann.org/applicationcomment/commentdetails/6653?utm_source=Official+Public+Commentary+to+UNIFORUM%27s+Application+to+ICANN&utm_campaign=+DCA+Official+Public+Commentary+to+UNIFORUM%27s+Application+to+ICANN&utm_medium=archive Possible Conflict in the Business Model]</ref>
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==Objection to DCA Application to ICANN==
   
<big><i>GAC Early warning:</i></big>
 
<big><i>GAC Early warning:</i></big>
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In November 21, 2012 DotConnectAfrica’s application received 17 early warnings. More than 240 individual GAC Early Warnings were issued in relation to 200 new TLD applications which account for 162 unique strings. The warnings noted to be of similar verbatim were received from African countries namely, Comoros, Kenya, Cameroon, DRC, Benin, Egypt; Gabon, Bourkina Faso, Ghana, Morocco, Mali, Uganda, Senegal, South Africa, Nigeria and Tanzania and the African Union.<ref>[http://www.gtldstrategy.com/policy-updates/gac-early-warnings-issued GAC Early Warnings Issued]. Published 2012 April 21. Retrieved 2013 June 20.</ref>
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In November 21, 2012 DotConnectAfrica’s application received 17 early warnings. More than 240 individual GAC Early Warnings were issued in relation to 200 new TLD applications which account for 162 unique strings. The warnings noted to be of similar verbatim were received from African countries namely, Comoros, Kenya, Cameroun, DRC, Benin, Egypt; Gabon, Bourkina Faso, Ghana, Morocco, Mali, Uganda, Senegal, South Africa, Nigeria and Tanzania and the African Union.
    
In their December 12, 2012  response<ref>[http://www.dotconnectafrica.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/Response-to-the-ICANN-GAC-Early-Warning-Advice-against-the-.Africa-Application-Submitted-by-DotConnectAfrica-Trust.pdf GAC Early Warning Response]. Published 2012 Dec 5. Retrieved 2012 Dec 5.</ref> to the GAC early warnings, DotConnectAfrica noted that<i> “We believe that the governments were teleguided (or manipulated) into submitting these GAC Early Warning Advice, and as such, cannot really be considered as authentic in most cases. It is simply the outcome of a coordinated action which African country governments are being coerced to support, and we believe that actual governmental consultations with respective African country governments has not been done in many cases”</i>
 
In their December 12, 2012  response<ref>[http://www.dotconnectafrica.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/Response-to-the-ICANN-GAC-Early-Warning-Advice-against-the-.Africa-Application-Submitted-by-DotConnectAfrica-Trust.pdf GAC Early Warning Response]. Published 2012 Dec 5. Retrieved 2012 Dec 5.</ref> to the GAC early warnings, DotConnectAfrica noted that<i> “We believe that the governments were teleguided (or manipulated) into submitting these GAC Early Warning Advice, and as such, cannot really be considered as authentic in most cases. It is simply the outcome of a coordinated action which African country governments are being coerced to support, and we believe that actual governmental consultations with respective African country governments has not been done in many cases”</i>
    
<big><i>Beijing GAC objection:</i></big>
 
<big><i>Beijing GAC objection:</i></big>
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The ICANN meeting in Beijing China set the ground for some of the new gTLD procedures to continue, GAC Advice was part of the communiqué<ref>[http://www.icann.org/en/news/correspondence/gac-to-board-11apr13-en GAC Communiqué – Beijing, People's Republic of China]. Published 2013 April 11. Retrieved 2013 June 20.</ref>that saw several strings receive varying responses to their applications. The results of the GAC advice though attracted wide criticism from the internet community as to how some of the decisions we reached at.<ref>[http://www.internetgovernance.org/2013/04/11/who-needs-the-itu-when-you-have-a-gac/ Who needs the ITU when you have a GAC?]. Published 2013 April 11. Retrieved 2013 June 20.</ref> <ref>[http://www.ip-watch.org/2013/04/12/debate-in-beijing-icann-as-online-content-regulator/ Debate In Beijing: ICANN As Online Content Regulator?]. Published 2013 April 12. Retrieved 2013 June 20.</ref>
+
The ICANN meeting in Beijing China set the ground for some of the new gTLD procedures to continue, GAC Advice was part of the communiqué that saw several strings receive varying responses to their applications. The results of the GAC advice though attracted wide criticism from the internet fraternity as to how some of the decisions we reached at.
   −
DotConnectAfrica application received a GAC Objection advice which they submitted a response<ref>[http://newgtlds.icann.org/en/applicants/gac-advice GAC Advice Response]. Published 2013 May 22. Retrieved 2013 May 22.</ref> . The New gTLD Program Committee (consisting of ICANN Board) subsequently gave recommendation that the GAC advice be followed for DCA's .africa application. However the NGPC also gave the organization a channel through which they would appeal by seeking relief according to ICANN’s accountability mechanisms (see ICANN Bylaws, Articles IV and V) subject to the appropriate standing and procedural requirements. <ref>[http://www.icann.org/en/groups/board/documents/prelim-report-new-gtld-04jun13-en.htm Preliminary Report | Meeting of the New gTLD Program Committee]. Published 2013 April 12. Retrieved 2013 June 20.</ref>
+
DotConnectAfrica application received a GAC Objection advice which they submited a response<ref>[http://newgtlds.icann.org/en/applicants/gac-advice GAC Advice Response]. Published 2013 May 22. Retrieved 2013 May 22.</ref> . New gTLD Program Committee and subsequently gave recommendation that the GAC advice be followed. However the NGPC also gave the organization a channel through which they would appeal by seeking relief according to ICANN’s accountability mechanisms (see ICANN Bylaws, Articles IV and V) subject to the appropriate standing and procedural requirements.
    
==Letter to U.S. Congress==
 
==Letter to U.S. Congress==
 
Following communication sent to [[ICANN]] and the African Union<Ref name="DCA Letter to Africa Union">[http://www.icann.org/en/news/correspondence/bekele-to-shinkaiye-12jul12-en DCA Letter: Opposition to the Application by UniForum ZA Central Registry for the .AFRICA gTLD] Published & Retrieved 12 July 2012</ref>, DCA appealed to members of the U.S. Congress in February, 2013. DCA wrote and reiterated their issues with the manner in which UniForum received and carried out the AU's endorsement. DCA notes that it does not feel there are sufficient mechanisms for appeal or dealing with illegalities over the new gTLD program and requested the U.S. Congress to intervene immediately to create an independent  New gTLD Ombudsman for the entire ICANN New gTLD program, where such grievances will be heard and addressed<Ref name="DCA Letter to Congress">[http://www.dotconnectafrica.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/Letter-to-US-Senate-on-UniForum-escalation-21st-February-2013-from-DotConnectAfrica.pdf DCA Letter to US Congress about Africa,DotConnectAfrica.org] Published & Retrieved 22 Feb 2013</ref>
 
Following communication sent to [[ICANN]] and the African Union<Ref name="DCA Letter to Africa Union">[http://www.icann.org/en/news/correspondence/bekele-to-shinkaiye-12jul12-en DCA Letter: Opposition to the Application by UniForum ZA Central Registry for the .AFRICA gTLD] Published & Retrieved 12 July 2012</ref>, DCA appealed to members of the U.S. Congress in February, 2013. DCA wrote and reiterated their issues with the manner in which UniForum received and carried out the AU's endorsement. DCA notes that it does not feel there are sufficient mechanisms for appeal or dealing with illegalities over the new gTLD program and requested the U.S. Congress to intervene immediately to create an independent  New gTLD Ombudsman for the entire ICANN New gTLD program, where such grievances will be heard and addressed<Ref name="DCA Letter to Congress">[http://www.dotconnectafrica.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/Letter-to-US-Senate-on-UniForum-escalation-21st-February-2013-from-DotConnectAfrica.pdf DCA Letter to US Congress about Africa,DotConnectAfrica.org] Published & Retrieved 22 Feb 2013</ref>
−
  −
DCA recently reported the current status of their appeal at congress as positive.<Ref name="DCA Update on US Congress engagement">[http://archive.constantcontact.com/fs123/1102516344150/archive/1113611499513.html DotConnectAfrica Update: Status of our gTLD Application & Current Engagements with the U.S.Congress] Published 30 May 2013</ref>
      
==References==
 
==References==
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