<div dir="ltr"><div><br>Dear All,<br><br></div><div>Please, FYI.<br></div><div>_Olévié_<br></div><div><div class="gmail_quote">---------- Forwarded message ----------<br>From: <b class="gmail_sendername">Kawsu Sillah</b> <span dir="ltr"><<a href="mailto:kawsu.sillah@gmail.com">kawsu.sillah@gmail.com</a>></span><br>Date: 2015-08-01 12:06 GMT+01:00<br>Subject: [AfrICANN-discuss] Fwd: [kictanet] African Union Commission Communiqué on the declaration of the Independent Review Panel (IRP) in the matter between Dot Connect Africa (DCA) and the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN)<br>To: KAWSU ESSA SILLAH <<a href="mailto:kawsu.sillah@gmail.com">kawsu.sillah@gmail.com</a>><br><br><br>Good morning colleagues,<div><br></div><div>This's for your information. Pardon my cross post and duplication. </div><div><br></div><div>Thank you.<br><br>---------- Forwarded message ----------<br>From: <b>Alice Munyua via kictanet</b> <<a href="mailto:kictanet@lists.kictanet.or.ke" target="_blank">kictanet@lists.kictanet.or.ke</a>><br>Date: Saturday, August 1, 2015<br>Subject: [kictanet] African Union Commission Communiqué on the declaration of the Independent Review Panel (IRP) in the matter between Dot Connect Africa (DCA) and the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN)<br>To: Kawsu Sillah <<a href="mailto:kawsu.sillah@gmail.com" target="_blank">kawsu.sillah@gmail.com</a>><br>Cc: Alice Munyua <<a href="mailto:alice@dotafrica.org" target="_blank">alice@dotafrica.org</a>><br><br><br>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align:center;text-autospace:none" align="center"><b><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Cambria","serif";color:black">African
Union Commission Communiqué on the declaration of the
Independent Review Panel (IRP) in the matter between Dot
Connect Africa (DCA) and the Internet Corporation for
Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN)</span></b><u></u><u></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align:justify;text-autospace:none"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Cambria","serif";color:black"> </span><u></u><u></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align:justify;text-autospace:none"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Cambria","serif";color:black">The
African Union Commission (AUC) is deeply concerned by the
final declaration of the Independent Review Panel (IRP) in the
matter between Dot Connect Africa (DCA) and the Internet
Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN). </span><u></u><u></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align:justify;text-autospace:none"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Cambria","serif";color:black"> </span><u></u><u></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align:justify;text-autospace:none"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Cambria","serif";color:black">The
declaration raises serious questions on the role of
governments in the ICANN multi stakeholder model and the
broader Internet governance ecosystem as well as the
effectiveness and reliability of government protection
mechanisms as outlined in the new gTLD Applicants Guidebook </span><u></u><u></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align:justify;text-autospace:none"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Cambria","serif";color:black"> </span><u></u><u></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align:justify;text-autospace:none"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Cambria","serif";color:black">We
reiterate and re-emphasize that African governments mandated
the African Union Commission (AUC), through the Abuja
Declaration to “set up the structure and modalities for the
implementation of the dot Africa Top Level Domain”. The AUC
adopted an open and transparent process at the regional level
through the Request for Proposals (RFP) and at the end of this
process exclusively endorsed the application submitted by the
ZA Central Registry (ZACR) for the. Africa Top Level Domain,
dot Africa (.AFRICA)</span><u></u><u></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align:justify;text-autospace:none"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Cambria","serif";color:black">Recalling
that African governments raised concerns in the Dakar
communiqué, regarding the protection of geographic names in
the new gTLD program and ICANN assured African governments
that there were adequate protections for geographic names,
such as. AFRICA contained in the new gTLD Applicants
Guidebook. </span><u></u><u></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align:justify;text-autospace:none"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Cambria","serif";color:black"> </span><u></u><u></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align:justify;text-autospace:none"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Cambria","serif";color:black">We
note that in response to these assurances the AUC elected not
to pursue previous requests to have the. AFRICA TLD string
added to the reserve name list and through our endorsement of
the ZACR application for the. AFRICA TLD, the AUC became an
active participant in the new gTLD process. We participated in
the formulation and adoption of the geographic name protection
mechanisms as contained in the Applicant Guidebook. This set
of rules, applicable to all new gTLD applicants and affected
parties, was the result of a multi-stakeholder engagement
process that was eventually adopted by ICANN. </span><u></u><u></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align:justify;text-autospace:none"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Cambria","serif";color:black"> </span><u></u><u></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align:justify;text-autospace:none"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Cambria","serif"">We
reiterate that the processes leading up to the establishment
of the final Applicant Guidebook, and all material times
thereafter, including during the application and evaluation
periods, was open, transparent and provided several avenues
for applicants to engage with individual African governments,
the GAC and the ICANN board regarding any concerns raised. All
new gTLD applicants would have and should have, been acutely
aware of these considerations prior to submitting their
applications. </span><u></u><u></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align:justify;text-autospace:none"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Cambria","serif";color:black"> </span><u></u><u></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align:justify;text-autospace:none"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Cambria","serif";color:black">We
recall that African governments, individually and collectively
through the mechanisms of the GAC, engaged with all reasonable
means at their disposal, as outlined in the Applicants
Guidebook, to: </span><u></u><u></u></p>
<p style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align:justify;text-autospace:none"><span style="font-family:Symbol"><span>·<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman""> </span></span></span><span dir="LTR"></span><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Cambria","serif";color:black">Submit
public comments;</span><u></u><u></u></p>
<p style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align:justify;text-autospace:none"><span style="font-family:Symbol"><span>·<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman""> </span></span></span><span dir="LTR"></span><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Cambria","serif";color:black">Raise
early warnings (which provided an opportunity for other
applicants to engage in an open and transparent manner with
the various governments regarding concerns expressed); and </span><u></u><u></u></p>
<p style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align:justify;text-autospace:none"><span style="font-family:Symbol"><span>·<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman""> </span></span></span><span dir="LTR"></span><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Cambria","serif";color:black">Issue
GAC objections and GAC advice to the board.</span><u></u><u></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Cambria","serif""> </span><u></u><u></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Cambria","serif"">We
emphasize that GAC consensus advice contained in the 2013
Beijing communiqué was <span style="color:black">the
culmination of a lengthy process of public engagement in
order to provide fairness and transparency regarding
governments concerns and objections relating to geographic
name protections </span>and to provide rationale to the
board and ICANN community, including applicants, on future
government related responses to new gTLD applications.</span><u></u><u></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-autospace:none"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Cambria","serif"" lang="EN-GB">The Africa region, African Internet stakeholders,
the ZACR and AUC are the unfortunate victims of a
dysfunctional accountability process and an independent review
panel that did not delve more deeply to understand the new
gTLD process, the role of governments in that process and how
the ICANN multi stakeholder model functions in general. </span><u></u><u></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-autospace:none"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Cambria","serif"" lang="EN-GB"> </span><u></u><u></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-autospace:none"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Cambria","serif"" lang="EN-GB">We note that while the IRP </span><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Cambria","serif";color:black">does
not refute that governments, through the issuance of consensus
GAC Advice, formally objected to the DCA application, the
final declaration raises concerns about the role of government
engagement in the ICANN multi stakeholder model and more
broadly in the internet governance ecosystem. </span><u></u><u></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-autospace:none"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Cambria","serif"" lang="EN-GB"> </span><u></u><u></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Cambria","serif"" lang="EN-GB">The AUC endorsed ZACR dot Africa (.Africa)
application has been, and continues to be, a collaborative
African led initiative involving African governments, ICT
stakeholders and the broader African community. </span><u></u><u></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Cambria","serif""><br>
</span><u></u><u></u></p>
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<p><b><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:#00b050">Directorate
of Information and Communication</span></b><b><span style="font-size:10.0pt;color:#e36c09"> </span></b><u></u><u></u></p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height:15.0pt">
<td style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;height:15.0pt">
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt"><span style="font-size:7.5pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:#00b050">Directorate
of Information and Communication</span><b><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#e36c09"> </span></b><b><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#00b050">|</span></b><b><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#e36c09">
</span></b><span style="font-size:7.5pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:#00b050">Information
and Communication</span><b><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#e36c09"> </span></b><b><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#00b050">|
</span></b><span style="font-size:7.5pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:#00b050">African
Union Commission</span><u></u><u></u></p>
</td>
</tr>
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<td style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;height:12.75pt">
<p><span style="font-size:7.5pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:#00b050">Tel</span><span style="font-size:7.5pt;color:#00b050">: </span><span style="font-size:7.5pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:#00b050"><a href="tel:%2B251-11-5517700" value="+251115517700" target="_blank">+251-11-5517700</a></span><b><span style="font-size:7.5pt;color:#00b050"> |</span></b><span style="font-size:7.5pt;color:#00b050"> </span><span style="font-size:7.5pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:#00b050">Fax:</span><span style="font-size:7.5pt;color:#00b050"> <b> |</b> </span><span style="font-size:7.5pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:#00b050">E-mail:</span><b><span style="font-size:7.5pt;color:#00b050"> </span></b><span style="font-size:7.5pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:#00b050"><a title="Click to
send email to Directorate of Information and
Communication"><span style="color:#00b050">DIC@africa-union.org</span></a></span><b><span style="font-size:7.5pt;color:#00b050"> | </span></b><span style="font-size:7.5pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:#00b050">Web:<a href="http://www.au.int" title="African Union Official
Website" target="_blank">www.au.int</a></span><u></u><u></u></p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height:13.5pt">
<td style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;height:13.5pt">
<p><span style="font-size:7.5pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:#00b050">Addis
Ababa</span><b><span style="font-size:10.0pt;color:#00b050"> | </span></b><span style="font-size:7.5pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:#00b050">Ethiopia</span><u></u><u></u></p>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<span> </span><br>
<br>
<br>
On 01/08/2015 11:11, Barrack Otieno via kictanet wrote:<br>
</div>
<blockquote type="cite">
<pre>Listers ,
FYI
---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Rinalia Abdul Rahim <a><rinalia.abdulrahim@gmail.com></a>
Date: Sat, 1 Aug 2015 09:56:01 +0800
Subject: [ALAC] John Jeffrey blog on .africa IRP
To: ALAC Working List <a><alac@atlarge-lists.icann.org></a>,
<a>afri-discuss@atlarge-lists.icann.org</a>
Dear ALAC and AFRALO,
Please find below a link to ICANN General Counsel's blog on the .africa IRP
ruling.
</pre>
<blockquote type="cite">
<pre></pre>
</blockquote>
<pre><a href="https://www.icann.org/news/blog/africa-irp-declaration-clearing-up-some-facts" target="_blank">https://www.icann.org/news/blog/africa-irp-declaration-clearing-up-some-facts</a>
</pre>
<blockquote type="cite">
<pre></pre>
</blockquote>
<pre>Best regards,
Rinalia
</pre>
</blockquote>
<br>
</div>
<br></div><br><br>-- <br><div dir="ltr">BEST REGARDS <br>*KAWSU SILLAH* <a href="https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0/%3Chttp://www.about.me/ksillah%3E" target="_blank"><http://www.about.me/ksillah></a><div><br><div><div><a href="http://www.google.com/url?q=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.aworldatschool.org%2F&sa=D&sntz=1&usg=AFQjCNH_eBGgrjAqy8IglavnppIXj7X2pw" target="_blank"><b><span style="font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";color:#fd8608">A World at School</span></b></a><b><span style="font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";color:#fd8608"> Global Youth Ambassador. </span></b><font face="Times New Roman, serif" color="#fd8608" size="4"><b><a href="http://www.aworldatschool.org/" target="_blank">http://www.aworldatschool.org/</a></b></font> </div><div><span style="font-size:6.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:#888888"></span></div><div><br></div><div>*Ambassador*- - ITU Telecom World Young Innovators Competition. <a href="https://ideas.itu.int/" target="_blank">https://ideas.itu.int/</a></div><div> <br>*Owner and Manager*- - Pride Tech Computers. <a href="https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0/%3Chttp://findit.gm/biz/pride-tech-computers/%3E" target="_blank"><http://findit.gm/biz/pride-tech-computers/></a><br><br>*Assistant Business Liaison Officer* - - Information Technology Association of The Gambia <a href="https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0/%3Chttp://www.itag.gm/gambia/%3E" target="_blank"><http://www.itag.gm/gambia/></a></div><div><br></div><div>*Partnership and Fundraising Officer* Tech Needs Girls Campaign - Gambia. <a href="http://techneedsgirlsgm.webs.com/" target="_blank">http://techneedsgirlsgm.webs.com/</a></div><div><br></div><div>*Country Director* - - Life-Skills Initiative for Youth Empowerment and Development Africa. <a href="http://www.lifyead.org/" target="_blank">http://www.lifyead.org/</a></div><div><br></div><div>*Project Manager* - - Friends of Basse Association. <a href="http://www.mybasse.org" target="_blank">www.mybasse.org</a></div><div><br></div><div>*Influencer* - - The World We Want 2015. <a href="http://www.myworld2015.org/" target="_blank">http://www.myworld2015.org/</a><br><br></div><div><div>MOB: <a href="tel:%2B220%209865300" value="+2209865300" target="_blank">+220 9865300</a> / 6865300/ 3965300 SKYPE: profkawsu FB: <a href="https://www.facebook.com/kawsu.f.sillah" target="_blank">Kawsu.f.Sillah</a> <br>Twit: @ksillah1 LinkIn: <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/profile/view?id=103784437&trk=nav_responsive_tab_profile_pic" target="_blank">KAWSU SILLAH </a><br></div></div></div></div></div><br>
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<br></div><br><br clear="all"><br>-- <br><div class="gmail_signature"><div dir="ltr"><div>Olévié Ayaovi Agbenyo KOUAMI<br></div><div>Président/CEO de INTIC4DEV (http:<a href="http://www.intic4dev.org" target="_blank">www.intic4dev.org</a>) <br></div><div>Directeur-Adjoint de O and K IT sarl (Editeur de logiciels de gestion SIGE (Syscoa/Ohada)<br></div><div>SG de ESTETIC - Association Togolaise des professionnels des TIC (<a href="http://www.estetic.tg" target="_blank">http://www.estetic.tg</a>)<br></div><div>ICANN-NPOC Communications Committee Chair (<a href="http://www.icann.org/" target="_blank">http://www.icann.org/</a> et <a href="http://www.npoc.org/" target="_blank">http://www.npoc.org/</a>)<br>Membre du FOSSFA (<a href="http://www.fossfa.net" target="_blank">www.fossfa.net</a>) et Membre de de Internet Society (<a href="http://www.isoc.org" target="_blank">www.isoc.org</a>) </div><div>Skype : olevie1 FB : @olivier.kouami.3 Twitter : #oleviek Lomé – Togo<br></div>ICANN - Fellow & Alumni<br>Secrétaire Général du RIK-Togo ( Réseau Interprofessionnel du Karité au Togo)</div></div>
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