On 8 June, African Parliamentarians from the African Parliamentary Network on Internet Governance (APNIG) convened for a pivotal capacity development session aimed at advancing Internet Governance across the continent. This event was held as part of the Coalition for Digital Africa’s capacity development initiative, Internet Governance Capacity Development for Governments and Lawmakers. The session began with opening and welcome remarks from Pierre Dandjinou, ICANN Vice President, Global Stakeholder Engagement, Africa and Hon. Lydia Akanvariba MP, Republic of Ghana, who set the collaborative tone for the day’s discussions.
Yazid Akanho, ICANN’s Technical Engagement Sr. Specialist (Middle East and Africa), led an insightful session on the Domain Name System (DNS) in Africa. He discussed critical topics such as DNS abuse and mitigation strategies, the findings of the ICANN commissioned 2023 Africa Domain Name Industry Study, and the importance of country code top-level domains (ccTLDs) and Two-Letter Second-Level Domains. This session highlighted the critical need for technical engagement to strengthen Africa’s Internet infrastructure.
Following a group photo and a break, the discussion turned to Universal Acceptance and Internationalized Domain Names. Yaovi Atohoun, ICANN’s Director Stakeholder Engagement & Operations for Africa, spoke about the importance of ensuring that all valid domain names and email addresses are accepted, regardless of script, language, or length, thereby promoting inclusivity and diversity in the digital space.
The day’s discussions concluded with a session on the next round of New Generic Top-Level Domains (gTLDs) Program. This session emphasized the importance of Africa’s active participation and engagement on these developments, highlighting the potential benefits for social, economic and digital growth benefits.
The Parliamentarian workshop underscored one of the Coalition’s goals; enhancing technical capabilities to pave the way for a more robust and inclusive digital future for the continent.
Moreover, the APNIG delegation also attended the ICANN High-Level Governmental Meeting (HLGM) hosted by the Rwandan Minister of ICT and Innovation, on 9th June prior to ICANN80. The objective of the High-Level Government Meeting is to create political awareness of ICANN’s pivotal role in the important technical aspects of Internet Governance and its direct impact on critical ICT issues, such as cybersecurity and achieving meaningful digital connectivity.
Senator Catherine Mumma, a Republic of Kenya MP and a member of APNIG’s Founding and Executive Committee, was a panelist on the Cooperation and Governance session. She applauded ICANN’s efforts in inviting lawmakers and emphasized the importance of the ICANN ecosystem, acknowledging that the government, as represented by the Governmental Advisory Committee (GAC), extends beyond the Executive branch. The legislature and judiciary should also be involved. Senator Mumma also advocated for multistakeholder collaboration in developing the capacities that lawmakers require to be both facilitators and protectors of the citizens they represent.