Mauritius Appoints Judge to Probe AFRINIC’s 100+ Dispute Management Cases

The government appointed Nicolas Ohsan-Bellepeau, a Puisne Judge at the Supreme Court, as a special investigator to examine AFRINIC Ltd’s management. AFRINIC is the regional Internet address registry for Africa, based in Ebène, which has been under judicial administration since November 2024.

This appointment was made through a presidential decree issued on July 25, 2025, and published in the Government Gazette.

President Dharambeer Gokhool, acting on advice from his cabinet, authorized the unusual direct appointment.

The decision was driven by concerns over AFRINIC’s prolonged inaction under successive judicial administrators, which has halted the allocation of new IP addresses across Africa.

This situation has weakened the continent’s digital infrastructure and damaged Mauritius’s reputation as a technological hub.

The move surprised the judiciary, as it is uncommon for a sitting judge to be reassigned without the approval of the chief judge, who is the judge’s immediate superior.

l’Express sources close to the government explained that the decision reflects an urgent need to expedite certain legal rulings related to AFRINIC and to enable the government to regain control of a highly sensitive diplomatic, legal, and technological issue.

According to the decree, Judge Ohsan-Bellepeau’s appointment is based on Article 7(3) of the Courts Act, which prohibits judges from holding other positions without presidential approval advised by the cabinet.

He is temporarily relieved of his judicial duties until September 30, 2025, to focus solely on this investigation.

Scope of the Investigation

The investigation will be broad and complex. It aims to determine whether the legal procedures leading to AFRINIC’s judicial administration were proper or flawed.

It will also scrutinize the legitimacy of the court-appointed administrators—particularly the controversial appointment of Me Gowtamsingh Dabee—and assess their management, especially their repeated failure to organize elections to restore a proper board of directors as per the organization’s statutes.

The presidential proclamation highlights nine key areas of inquiry, including:

• The legitimacy of Cloud Innovation Ltd, an AFRINIC member company, in initiating the judicial recovery process.
• The true intentions behind Cloud Innovation’s attempt to become a “registered member.”
• The legality of Cloud Innovation’s request to liquidate AFRINIC.
• Suspicion of criminal offenses such as false statements and document falsification (under Articles 332(1) and 334 of the Companies Act), involving Cloud Innovation, its executives, and the judicial administrators.

This investigation aims to clarify these issues and ensure accountability in the handling of AFRINIC’s case.

Judge Ohsan-Bellepeau will also investigate whether certain actors deliberately tried to paralyze AFRINIC, risking Africa’s digital sovereignty.

AFRINIC was created to ensure fair access to Internet resources across Africa. It is a vital part of the global Internet infrastructure, with its headquarters in Mauritius, chosen for the country’s stability, democracy, and rule of law.

However, ongoing disputes—more than 100 according to some sources of l’Express—and internal management issues have eroded trust in the organization.

One key player in this crisis is Cloud Innovation Ltd, an IP address management company linked to Chinese interests and led by Lu Heng, a global citizen and outspoken advocate of free Internet.

Cloud Innovation has launched an unprecedented legal battle against AFRINIC, challenging its governance and internal procedures. The company denies accusations of attempting to take control or manipulate elections.

Mauritian authorities welcomed the government’s decision, as many in the African tech community are frustrated by the ongoing instability at AFRINIC.

Recently, Mauritius designated AFRINIC as a “declared company,” a special status under the Companies Act for organizations in serious crisis, which grants increased investigative powers and potential sanctions.

Underlying these developments is a broader fight over Africa’s digital sovereignty. Beyond legal disputes, AFRINIC’s fate reflects deeper tensions involving technical governance, geopolitical interests, and cyber regulation across the continent.

Judge Ohsan-Bellepeau’s report, due by the end of September, could shape AFRINIC’s future and redefine Mauritius’s role in global Internet governance.

Source: l’Express