2025-04-09 AFRALO Monthly Teleconference English Report
- Hervé HOUNZANDJI
Report: AFRALO - Monthly Meeting
Date: April 9, 2025
Time: 18:30 - 20:00 (UTC)
Venue: Teleconference (Zoom)
Participants
- Leaders : Hadia (Chair), Bram (Vice-chair), Hervé (Secretary), Aziz (ALAC), Raïhanath (ALAC), Bukola (ALAC)
- Present Members:
Aaron Promise Mbah, Abdelaziz Hilali, Abdeldjalil Bachar Bong, Abdulkarim Oloyede, Adebunmi Akinbo, Adetokunbo Abiola, Adugna Necho, Amanda Shozi, Arinola Akinyemi, Bakary Kouyate, Barrack Otieno, Bendjedid Rachad Sanoussi, Bram Fuzulani, Bukola Oronti, Busayo Balogun, Christelle Assirou, Dave Kissoondoyal, Edith Konan, Ernest Mafuta Katoka, Fanny Salyou, Foldestine Paye, Frank Anati, Gabriel Bombambo Boseko, Gloria Amofah-Adjekum, Hadia Elminiawi, Hilda Maina, Houda Chihi, Joel Okomoli, Levy Syanseke, Malick Alassane, Michel Tchonang Linze, Muriel Alapini, Mutegeki Cliff, Nabuzale Dorren Nandutu, Nkem Nweke, Nkoro N.E., Omar Shuran, Parasar Sikdar, Pastor Peters Omoragbon, Patrick Kiiza, Raihanath Gbadamassi, Saba Tiku, Seth Adjei Gyimah, Setondji Hounzandji, Seun Ojedeji, Tijani Ben Jemaa, Tinuade Oguntuyi, Vernatius Ezeama - Staff: Silvia Vivanco, Yazid Akanho, Bob Ochieng, Michelle DeSmyter
- Interpreters: Jacques & Dominique
- Call Management: Michelle DeSmyter
Apologies: Yaovi Atohoun, Aicha Abbad
Agenda : 2025-04-09 AFRALO Monthly Teleconference
1.Welcome remarks - (@Hadia Elminiawi)
- Hadia introduced the agenda and invited participants to adopt it.
- No comments or modifications were made, and the agenda was adopted.
2. Review of Action items from previous meeting (Jan 8th 2025)
None
3. Open ICANN Public Comments - (@Hadia Elminiawi)
@Hadia presented an overview of recent initiatives and ongoing discussions regarding opening public comments within ICANN. Below is a detailed summary of the key points addressed:
Ratification
Ongoing or Pending Decisions
Review
- Call for comments
- FY26-FY30 Middle East Regional Plan - 12 May 2025 - CPWG
4. Upcoming Public Comment Proceedings
- https://www.icann.org/en/public-comment/upcoming-proceedings
Improved GNSO Stakeholder Group and Constituency Charter Amendment Process
Customer Standing Committee (CSC) changes Process for Amending the IANA SLAs
5. ICANN 82 African Fellows Readout - total 20 mins (15 mins and 5 mins Q&A) - (Hervé HOUNZANDJI)
Africa had nine fellows for ICANN82. Unfortunately, due to visa issues, some were unable to participate in the social experience. Four fellows, two of whom were on-site, were able to share their experiences of ICANN82. They are:
Seth Adjei Gyimah - Ghana (virtual)
Doreen Nandutu Nabuzale - Uganda (virtual)
Ernest Mafuta Katoka - Zambia
Hildah Maina - Kenya
We will remember this as an overall enriching experience. Several points of interest emerged from this readout, including PTI/IANA, Tech Days, ICANN Board, ccNSO, gNSO, and AFRICANN Meeting.
6. ICANN Africa Reports/Updates
- GSE Africa (l'équipe était absente mais a envoyé cette note)
ARPWG2025 presented a draft to GSE. This document is being reviewed and the next step is the opening of a Public Comment Period. Final document is expected to be ready before July 2025. Congratulations to all the volunteers particularly to the AFRALO chair.
We had special Next round outreach activities in South Africa and in Nigeria. We would like to remind members again, the Champion Toolkit available on the Program website.
We are suggesting that each ALS organize an event which could be online for its local community.Projects are moving well under the Coalition for Digital Africa. Zones signed in Cameroun and Burkina Faso. One last step soon to complete the process. Ongoong discussions with universities about UA integration. into Curricula.
Acceptation Universelle (UA) : Congratulations to ALSes selected for UA DAY activities. Our team is supporting hosts in some countries. We also wish a successful AFRALO regional UA DAY.
- OCTO Middle-East & Africa (Yazid Akanho)
- Support for ccTLDs in Burkina Faso and Cameroon: Implementation of monitoring infrastructure and DNSSEC best practices
- Ongoing engagement in Burundi on DNSSEC
- Engagement in Cape Verde: DNSSEC workshop with students from the University of Cape Verde, meeting with regulators and ISPs.
- New round gTLD team (Bob Ochieng)
- Engagement workshop underway in Abuja.
- Reminder of key dates (opening April 2026, submission date November 19, 2025)
- Support program for applicants. Fee: 227,000, with possible discounts of 75 to 85%.
- Update on the number of applications: 30 applications received, including 5 African applications from two countries.
More information on : https://newgtldprogram.icann.org/en
7. Reports/Updates/Items for discussion
- ICANN82 Feedback and AFRALO-AfrICANN statement feedback
The statement will be finalized and sent to the ICANN Board.
No hands raised for feedback on ICANN82.
- 2025-05-07 AFRALO Regional UA Day Event 2025 and 2025-04-30 AFRALO Regional UA Day Pre-event 2025
Wednesday, April 30, 2025: The program is available at : 2025-05-07 AFRALO Regional UA Day event 2025
Mutegeki Cliff reiterated the day's objectives: Technology Adoption – Presentation of AFRALO ALS adoption experiences, and invited ALSs to share their experiences and the community's progress on UA.
- Recent and upcoming ALAC activities (Raihanath GBADAMASSI aziz.hilali bukola.fawole)
Raihanath GBADAMASSI : Since ICANN82, discussions have focused on measures to increase African applications, support for ALSs, and numerous ratifications.
No new ALSs in Africa.
bukola.fawole : ALAC objection procedure for new gTLDs, submission of the work of the ALAC CIP team.
- Working Group ACES update
The charter for this group is currently being drafted and several AFRALO members are already part of the group.
- Recent and upcoming AFRALO/ALS activities and Updates from Individual Members
- ISOC Mali - Bakary Kouyaté
- Activities: Raising awareness about the rational use of social media
- Outlook: Organizing a DNS row show, inter-chapter webinar for Girls in ICT
- ISOC Mali - Bakary Kouyaté
8. AFRALO Working group updates
- AFRALO FY26 Outreach and Engagement Plan - the CROP requests (CROP FY25 main landing page) and FY25 RALO Discretionary Requests
Hadia indicated that the strategic plan has not yet been developed. But for CROP, all the information is in the documents, the links of which are shared. ALSs can submit grant applications. AFRALO still has $2,000. Applications for activities must be received three weeks before the event.
- Charter for the Procedure for Drafting AFRALO Statements
Hervé very quickly recalled the procedural charter for drafting declarations. We must return to this.
- AFRALO Capacity Building and Fellows Network 2025
Muriel also spoke about the charter she drafted with Amina and Hadia and invited members to comment on the document.
- CIP Small Team Formation and AFRALO Rules of Procedure
We'll come back to that. Nothing new.
- AFRALO Advisory Group (@peters.omoragbon )
Pastor Peters explained that he took into account ICANN's regulations and invited members to comment on the charter.
9. AFRALO Membership Matters (Hervé HOUNZANDJI)
Action | Individual & Observer Members | Update |
|---|---|---|
Newly Joined (1) | Aaron Promise Mbah | |
Processing Application (2) | Dr. Akinyokun Olusina Temidayo Muma Edward Mwangala |
10. AOB
With no other business being proposed, @Hadia closed the meeting by once again encouraging all members to actively participate in AFRALO activities.
The meeting was then officially closed by the ICANN team.
11. Next meeting - Wednesday, May 5th 2025 at 18:30 UTC for 90 mins