Yes2DotAfrica Campaign (2008-2013)
YES2DOTAFRICA Campaign
A Pan-African Digital Sovereignty Initiative — championing Africa’s right to a continental digital identity within the global domain name system.
Where It All Began: 2006–2007
The Founding Vision
Why It Mattered
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First continental advocacy effort for a Pan-African gTLD
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Directly engaged ICANN governance structures from the outset
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Established early legitimacy within AfrICANN forums
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Laid the groundwork for formal institutional engagement
Recorded Institutional Endorsements
Economic Commission for Africa
The UNECA formally endorsed the .africa initiative, recognizing its alignment with continental goals for digital inclusion, economic integration, and the advancement of Africa’s knowledge economy. This endorsement carried significant weight within UN system-wide discussions on internet governance.
African Union Commission
The African Union Commission’s endorsement affirmed that .africa was not a private commercial venture — it was a continental public good. The AUC’s backing provided DotConnectAfrica with institutional legitimacy that would anchor its advocacy throughout subsequent years of the campaign.
These formal endorsements established DotConnectAfrica as the credible, community-rooted advocate for the .africa domain — a distinction that would prove critical in subsequent governance proceedings.
2007-2009
Building Institutional Awareness Across Continents
ITU
International Telecommunication Union — engaged on the technical and policy dimensions of a dedicated African top-level domain.
African Union Commission
Presented the .africa proposal as integral to Africa's digital transformation agenda and AU institutional branding.
UNECA
United Nations Economic Commission for Africa — highlighted .africa's role in inclusive economic growth and digital equity.
African Development Bank
Engaged on infrastructure financing and the developmental potential of a localized internet identity for African businesses.
World Bank
Discussions focused on .africa as a digital development tool supporting SMEs, e-commerce, and knowledge economies across the continent.
ICANN & AfrICANN
Continuous engagement with ICANN African Board members and AfrICANN, reinforcing DCA's position within global internet governance structures.
Core Principles
The Three Pillars of the .africa Vision
🌍 African Brand Identity
🌱 Youth Empowerment
🏗️ Infrastructure Localization
Africa’s First Trilingual Digital Campaign
In 2010, DotConnectAfrica launched one of the most ambitious and pioneering digital advocacy campaigns the continent had ever seen — a structured, trilingual, multi-platform initiative designed to reach every corner of Africa’s linguistic landscape.
Three Languages. One Vision.
DotAfrica — English-speaking communities
DotAfrique — Francophone communities
DotAfriqya — Arabophone communities
This trilingual architecture was a deliberate signal: .africa belongs to all Africans, regardless of colonial linguistic legacy.
Platforms & Channels
The campaign operated across the full spectrum of emerging social and digital media of the era:
→ Social Media: Facebook, Twitter, YouTube
→ Knowledge Sharing: Slideshare, Wikispaces, Flickr
→ Audio Content: Podcasts reaching diaspora and local communities
Campaign Mobilization & Media Reach
Issued within two years, keeping global media informed of campaign developments
Campaign communications distributed to subscribers across Africa and the diaspora
Global media pickups amplifying the .africa message across international platforms
Media coverage in non-English languages, reflecting the campaign’s multilingual reach
Global momentum for Africa’s digital sovereignty and the .africa movement.
Beyond media metrics, DotConnectAfrica participated in and sponsored major ICT conferences and ICANN events throughout this period — embedding itself in the conversations that shape global internet policy.
Expression of Interest & Registry Preparation
First to Step Forward
DotConnectAfrica distinguished itself as the first credible organization to formally express interest in operating and managing the .africa registry — a distinction grounded in years of demonstrated advocacy, institutional engagement, and technical preparation.
In February 2011, DotConnectAfrica issued a formal Expression of Interest (EOI) to identify qualified registry technical and operational partners. This was a transparent, community-oriented process designed to build the most capable and accountable infrastructure for .africa.
Key Milestones
2011 — EOI Issued
Formal call for registry technical and operational partners
2012 — Application Submitted
.africa gTLD application formally submitted to ICANN
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Kenya Infrastructure
Registry operations development announced, anchoring infrastructure in Africa
Participation in Global Internet Governance
DotConnectAfrica was not a peripheral observer in global internet governance — it was an active, sponsoring participant at the world’s most consequential forums for domain name policy and digital infrastructure. This consistent presence demonstrated both commitment and credibility.
ICANN — Paris 2008
Sponsor and Announcement of .Africa Endorsement from AUC and application to ICANN
ICANN 37 — Nairobi 2010
A landmark meeting on African soil — DotConnectAfrica leveraged the home-continent advantage to amplify the .africa cause.
ICANN 41 —Singapore 2011
Announcement of Miss.Africa Digital
ICANN 42 — Dakar 2011
Sponsor and continued engagement with West African stakeholders and global ICANN community members.
Munich New gTLD Conference 2011
Critical forum for new generic top-level domain applicants — DotConnectAfrica represented Africa’s interests directly.
ICANN 44 — Prague 2012
International participation demonstrating that Africa’s digital sovereignty agenda had global resonance.
ICANN 45 — Toronto 2012
Sustained North American engagement, connecting African advocates with global policy stakeholders.
EAIGF Kampala & AITEC Summit 2012
Regional forums anchoring the initiative in East African digital governance discourse.
The Independent Review Process (IRP)
An Accountability Mechanism Invoked
When DotConnectAfrica determined that ICANN’s handling of the .africa application deviated from its own governing rules, the organization did not retreat — it invoked the Independent Review Process (IRP), the formal accountability mechanism enshrined in ICANN’s own Bylaws.
The IRP was established precisely for situations like this: to provide an independent, binding mechanism for reviewing ICANN’s compliance with its Articles of Incorporation and Bylaws. DotConnectAfrica’s willingness to use it set a significant precedent for civil society accountability in internet governance.
January 2014
IRP formally initiated by DotConnectAfrica against ICANN
May 20, 2014
Independent Panel grants interim relief related to .africa delegation processing — a significant early procedural victory
IRP Final Declaration: DCA Prevails
"The IRP Panel determined that ICANN acted inconsistently with its Articles of Incorporation and Bylaws in relation to the handling of DotConnectAfrica's application."
A Historic Ruling
In July 2015, the Independent Review Panel issued its Final Declaration — a landmark ruling in the history of ICANN accountability. The Panel found, unambiguously, that ICANN had acted inconsistently with its own governing instruments in its handling of DotConnectAfrica’s .africa application.
DotConnectAfrica was formally declared the prevailing party in the IRP. This was not a minor procedural finding — it was a substantive determination that the process used to evaluate and decide upon the .africa application failed to meet the standards ICANN had set for itself.
The ruling reinforced the importance of procedural integrity in the new gTLD program and established DCA as a serious actor in global internet accountability.
What This Meant
ICANN Found Non-Compliant
With its own Articles and Bylaws
DCA Declared Prevailing Party
A formal legal and procedural victory
Precedent Set
For civil society use of ICANN accountability mechanisms
Judicial Proceedings in U.S. Federal Courts
Following the IRP Final Declaration, DotConnectAfrica pursued judicial remedies through the United States federal court system — demonstrating an unwavering commitment to legal accountability and the rule of law in internet governance.
2016
Federal court proceedings initiated following the IRP ruling; DCA sought judicial enforcement of the Panel’s findings
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2020–2021
Appellate proceedings concluded, marking the end of judicial review and closing this chapter of the legal process
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2017–2019
Trial-level proceedings advanced through U.S. federal courts, with DCA presenting its case on the merits of ICANN’s conduct
Beyond .africa: DCA’s Expanding Digital Mission
The years of advocacy, litigation, and global engagement transformed DotConnectAfrica into a seasoned institution with deep expertise in digital governance, technology capacity building, and youth empowerment. Following the .africa proceedings, DCA channeled that institutional knowledge into a suite of landmark digital programs.
DCA Digital Academy
A structured digital skills development program providing African learners with training in technology, entrepreneurship, and internet governance — building the next generation of Africa’s digital leaders.
Corporate Tech Boot Camp
An intensive professional development program designed for corporate teams and emerging technology professionals, equipping organizations with cutting-edge digital competencies relevant to Africa’s evolving tech landscape.
Miss.Africa Digital
A pioneering initiative spotlighting and empowering African women in technology and digital entrepreneurship — providing mentorship, platforms, and recognition to women driving digital change across the continent.
DCA WebForum
A convening platform bringing together policymakers, technologists, civil society advocates, and industry stakeholders to deliberate on Africa’s digital future — extending DCA’s tradition of inclusive, multilateral dialogue.
The Yes2DotAfrica Journey at a Glance
From a bold proposal in 2006 to a multi-decade institution shaping Africa’s digital future — the Yes2DotAfrica campaign traces an arc of consistent advocacy, institutional courage, and continental vision.
2006
Proposal presented to ICANN African Board members and AfrICANN — the seed of a continental digital identity movement
2010
Trilingual Yes2DotAfrica campaign launched in English, French, and Arabic across major digital platforms
2012
.africa gTLD application formally submitted to ICANN; registry infrastructure development announced in Kenya
2015
IRP Final Declaration issued — DotConnectAfrica declared prevailing party; ICANN found non-compliant with its own Bylaws
2022 – Present
DCA expands institutional programs: Digital Academy, Corporate Tech Boot Camp, Miss.Africa Digital, DCA WebForum
2007 – 2009
Institutional awareness presentations to ITU, AUC, UNECA, African Development Bank, World Bank, and ICANN bodies
2011
generation.africa program expansion; formal Expression of Interest issued for registry partners
2014
IRP initiated (January); Independent Panel grants interim relief on .africa delegation (May 20)
2016 – 2021
U.S. federal court proceedings and appellate review conclude, marking the end of judicial proceedings
A Legacy Written in Code, Advocacy, and Courage
The Yes2DotAfrica campaign represents far more than a domain name dispute. It is a multi-phase, continent-spanning initiative that wove together digital branding, youth mobilization, multilingual community engagement, institutional dialogue, and principled participation in the highest levels of global internet governance.
🌐 Digital Sovereignty
Established the principle that Africa must have an active, self-determined role in shaping the domain name system that underpins the global internet.
⚖️ Accountability in Governance
Demonstrated that civil society actors can — and must — invoke accountability mechanisms when international institutions fail to uphold their own rules.
🌱 Capacity & Continuity
Built lasting institutional capacity through digital academies, forums, and empowerment programs that continue to serve Africa’s communities today.
Yes2DotAfrica stands as enduring proof that Pan-African digital ambition, anchored in community values and institutional tenacity, can challenge the most entrenched global structures — and change the conversation about who gets to shape the internet.
