For over 20 years, the Internet Society (ISOC) has shaped the future of the Internet. The group’s core objective is Internet access for all. To achieve open access, the ISOC promotes sustainable policies and governance. After all, proper standards, technologies, business practices, and government policies can sustain an open and universally accessible platform for innovation, creativity, and economic opportunity.

Currently, 27 out of 54 African nations have or have had an ISOC chapter. Most have been around for some time – for more than five years in many areas. Which makes sense considering the goal of the Internet Society is to set up shop in the early stages of Internet adoption. Surprisingly, however, Kenya just launched a chapter within the past year.

Regardless of location, all chapters share a common theme: they actively promote IPv6 adoption. There is certainly no shortage of attention on both a global and local scale to encourage the switch from IPv4 to IPv6.

Snapshot of African ISOC Chapters

Benin (1999): held IPv6 conference in June 2012, one of the few.bj domains

Burkina Faso (2014): recently chartered

Burundi (2007): promotes ICT in general: education, culture, health, and e-commerce. Official site hasn’t been updated since inception…

Cameroon (2000): has been active promoting Internet standards and IPv6, plus recently celebrated the ISOC’s 20th anniversary

Chad (2008): has released a report on challenges facing Chad’s internet development in 2013

Congo-Brazzaville (2007): held an event to boost membership in 2011, recently celebrated IPv6 day

Cote d’Ivoire (2008): organized IPv6 workshop last year

DRC (2007): multiple conferences on IPv6 in June 2012

Gambia (2011): officially launched in May 2012, now has 70 members

Ghana (1997): led discussions on Internet security, discussed IPv6, trained journalists on ICT, holds social events

Kenya (2011): has recently held monthly meetings, discussed possibilities of having talks from industry leaders and visiting institutions that play a key role in shaping how the Internet is used locally

Liberia (2009): recently organized Girls in ICT day

Mali (1998): has recently held workshops on IPv4 to IPv6 migration.

Mauritania (2007): main objective the development of Internet services in Mauritania. Had plans for marine cable via Senegal as early as 2008 and reminded that linking cities isn’t enough (need rural, too)

Mauritius (2002): strong media push around IPv6 day

Morocco (1996): recently promoted IPv6 day during two-day event

Niger (2000)

Nigeria (1998): has done dozens of projects over the years, is recently on social media, promoted IPv6

Rwanda (2010): active on Twitter, promotes IPv6 standards

Senegal (2001): organizes various Internet forums

Sierra Leone (2007): has outlined the need to physically interconnect all local Internet Service Providers for collaborative purposes, and how it would “support your priority areas: corruption, energy, health, education, youth employment and the Diaspora’s involvement.”

Somalia (2011): Founded by Mohamed Ibrahim, the Project Manager of the .so registry. “Aims to be the platform that will bring together the Somali IT professionals and engineers involved in the Internet-related industries to share their technical know-how and expertise”

South Africa (1998): plenty of activity in 2010, but more recently celebrated ISOC’s 20th anniversary and held IPv6 training

Togo (2008): held IPv6 workshop, is on Facebook

Tunisia (2006): hosted INET conference in 2010, actively promotes Internet freedom

Uganda (1998): promotes IPv6 among ISPs, working to upgrade Uganda Internet Exchange Point

Zimbabwe (2013): newly created in September 2013