This communiqué addresses the Extraordinary Government Gazette of Mauritius (General Notice No. 1045 of 2025) issued on 18 July 2025, wherein the Prime Minister of Mauritius designated AfriNIC as a "declared company" under Section 230 of the Companies Act 2001. The notice further enjoins the Registrar of Companies to appoint an inspector to investigate AfriNIC’s affairs (notably the events leading to AfriNIC being placed in receivership and the winding up petition filed against AfriNIC recently).
We acknowledge and welcome the Government’s directive and reaffirm our commitment to full compliance with all applicable legal and regulatory requirements. For clarity and precision, we provide the following factual context:
Receivership Timeline:
- AfriNIC was placed in receivership on 12 September 2023 by Order of the Supreme Court of Mauritius
- An appeal against this Order was dismissed by the Court of Civil Appeal on 15 October 2024, thereby maintaining the receivership.
Election of Board:
- The Supreme Court’s Order of 26 June 2025 imparted a deadline of 30 September 2025 to the Court-appointed Receiver to conduct elections for AfriNIC’s Board. Preparations to meet this deadline are actively underway, and we assure stakeholders of our focus on a transparent, timely election process.
IP Address Allocations:
- New IPv4/IPv6 allocations to the African Internet community had resumed exceptionally on 1 July 2025, to clear a backlog of request to enable proper functioning of entities across Africa. AfriNIC remains dedicated to its mandate as Africa’s Regional Internet Registry (RIR).
Our Commitment
The Court-appointed Receiver and the AfriNIC team will cooperate fully with the Inspector appointed by the Registrar of Companies. We are confident this process will further clarify AfriNIC’s current operational and governance status. Our primary objectives remain:
- Preserving the stability of Africa’s Internet numbering resources.
- Ensuring service continuity for members.
- Facilitating the election of a duly mandated Board by 30 September 2025.
Conclusion
We recognise the concerns raised regarding Mauritius’ jurisdictional reputation and affirm that AfriNIC’s operational revival aligns with national and continental interests. We thank you for your continued trust and will provide updates as developments unfold.
Gowtamsingh DABEE
Court appointed Receiver - African Network Information Centre (AfriNIC) (in receivership)