Over the past three years, the African Internet community has voiced concerns about Mauritius’ suitability to host a pivotal Internet institution like a Regional Internet Registry, given governance challenges at AFRINIC.

On 25 July 2025, stepping in to address a rapidly escalating crisis, the President of Mauritius—acting on advice from the Cabinet—appointed Honourable N. F. Oh San-Bellepeau, Puisne Judge of the Supreme Court, to undertake a full investigation into AFRINIC, Africa’s Internet address registry. This crisis has drawn significant attention across both technology and policy communities, as continued governance disputes at AFRINIC have led to a complete halt in new Internet Protocol (IP) address allocations, damaging not just Mauritius’s reputation but also threatening the broader African digital ecosystem.

The core of the problem traces to a string of court disputes, which ultimately saw AFRINIC placed under receivership by the Supreme Court of Mauritius on 12 September 2023. The management by the appointed receivers, most recently Mr. Gowtamsingh Dabee, has been controversial and is now the subject of detailed scrutiny. Justice San-Bellepeau’s investigation covers whether receivership appointments followed proper procedure and if the receivers acted in line with AFRINIC’s constitution and its members’ interests. Their conduct in critical court cases and their management of stalled board elections are also under review. The proclamation launching the investigation specifically references possible criminal conduct involving false statements and records falsification under sections 332(1) and 334 of the Companies Act—highlighting the gravity of the concerns.

Another major focus is Cloud Innovation Ltd, a Chinese-owned AFRINIC member at the heart of the legal entanglements. The inspector is tasked with investigating whether Cloud Innovation, its directors, and associates could have committed similar criminal offences under Mauritian law. This includes probing whether Cloud Innovation’s attempts to change its membership status and file for AFRINIC’s winding up were legally dubious or fraudulent, and if their actions—such as filing hundreds of court cases—amount to a concerted effort to paralyze AFRINIC’s core functions and, by extension, jeopardize Africa’s entire internet infrastructure.

Recognizing the complexity of the task, Justice San-Bellepeau has been relieved of other judicial duties until 30 September 2025 in order to focus exclusively on this inquiry. The investigation takes place at a critical moment: earlier in July, the Mauritian Prime Minister formally declared AFRINIC a “declared company,” placing it under strict legal oversight typically reserved for entities in acute governance crisis. This move empowers government-appointed officials to dig deep into the registry’s problems, enforce compliance, and restore transparency and confidence.

The African Internet community, long frustrated by the lack of effective oversight at AFRINIC, generally welcomes this robust intervention by the Mauritian authorities. The outcome will likely set a precedent for internet governance and accountability structures across Africa and internationally.