Mr. Abdelaziz Hilali
Nationality: Moroccan
Country of Residence: Morocco
Organisation or affiliation: ISOC Morocco
Position: President
Brief Motivation
As an experienced academic and President of the Moroccan Chapter of the Internet Society (ISOC Morocco), I have been deeply involved in Internet governance across Africa for many years. My long-standing commitment, both in higher education and in the broader Internet community, has given me strategic insight and a thorough understanding of key issues such as IP resource management, digital infrastructure development, and Internet sovereignty on the continent.
Through this candidacy, I aim to contribute meaningfully to AFRINIC’s efforts to enhance transparency, ensure institutional stability, and promote inclusive, community-driven governance.
I am particularly committed to advancing balanced regional representation, with a focus on North Africa, and to ensuring that African technical and institutional voices are fully heard and considered within AFRINIC’s processes.
I firmly believe that my expertise, experience, and collaborative approach position me to bring significant value to AFRINIC’s Board as it continues to pursue its mission of fostering an open, secure, and accessible Internet for all Africans.
Professional Background
Abdelaziz Hilali is an Emeritus Professor at the National Institute of Posts and Telecommunications (INPT), Morocco, with over 40 years of academic, scientific, and leadership experience. He holds a Doctorate in Computer Science and Applied Mathematics (Université Joseph Fourier, Grenoble, 1987) and has served in senior academic and administrative roles, including Deputy Director of INPT, Director of Enterprise Relations & Internships (2009–2023), Director of Continuing Education (2007–2009), and Director of the Engineering Program (1995–2000).
Beyond academia, Prof. Hilali has been a driving force in Internet development and governance in Africa. He co-founded and currently presides over the Moroccan Internet Society (ISOC Morocco), the first African chapter of ISOC, and leads national initiatives on IPv6 adoption and Internet literacy. Internationally, he has been President of the Mediterranean Federation of Internet Associations (FMAI) since 2007, and chaired the North African Internet Governance Forum (2016–2019).
At the global level, Prof. Hilali served on the UN Internet Governance Forum’s Multistakeholder Advisory Group (2009–2013) and remains an active voice within ICANN, where he represented Africa on the At-Large Advisory Committee (ALAC), chaired AFRALO (2013–2017), and contributed to the ICANN Nominating Committee (2017–2019). He has also delivered capacity-building programs, notably through the ICANN Academy, and has organized major international Internet governance events, including ICANN meetings in Marrakech (2006, 2016, 2019).
His contributions extend to research and academic dissemination, with numerous publications in applied mathematics and Internet governance, as well as leadership in international cooperation between African and European institutions in ICT education and research.
Prof. Hilali’s longstanding involvement with AFRINIC includes active participation in policy discussions and advocacy for inclusive, transparent, and equitable IP resource management. His profile combines academic rigor, policy expertise, and pan-African leadership—making him well positioned to contribute strategically to AFRINIC’s mission of supporting Internet growth and digital inclusion across Africa.
Can you explain AFRINIC's role within the global Internet ecosystem?
AFRINIC, the African Network Information Centre, plays a fundamental and Multidimensional role in the Global Internet Ecosystem. As one of the five Regional Internet Registries (RIRs) worldwide, its primary role is to manage and fairly distribute Internet number resources across the African continent. These resources, mainly IP addresses and Autonomous System Numbers (ASNs), are essential identifiers that allow computers, servers, and other devices to connect and communicate globally.
AFRINIC operates on a bottom-up, Multistakeholder model, where the African Internet community participates in policy development, ensuring that allocation and management of resources reflect the continent’s needs. It collaborates with the other RIRs (APNIC, ARIN, LACNIC, RIPE NCC) and works closely with ICANN to ensure globally coordinated Internet resource management.
In summary, AFRINIC goes beyond resource allocation: it supports the growth, stability, and sovereignty of the Internet in Africa through capacity building, transparent governance, and community engagement.
Describe your understanding and commitment to multi stakeholder governance models
Multistakeholder governance is a model based on the active participation of multiple stakeholders in decision-making processes, including governments, private sector, civil society, academia, and the technical community. Decisions are made bottom-up, starting from the community, refined through discussion, and implemented collectively.
I have long supported this model through my roles at ICANN, AFRALO, ISOC Morocco, IGF North Africa, and FMAI (Mediterranean Federation of Internet Associations), promoting inclusive and transparent processes. I have actively participated in forums like the IGF, where Multistakeholder dialogue ensures policies reflect real needs, especially in the African context.
This approach mirrors my experience in university program management at INPT (National Institute of Posts and Telecommunications), where I applied Multistakeholder principles in designing and implementing engineering curricula and training programs. Decisions involved professors and researchers to ensure academic and technical rigor, students to understand their needs and career expectations, industry partners to align programs with labor market requirements, alumni to provide professional feedback, national authorities to validate and fund programs, international partners to support collaboration and mobility, and administrative services to guarantee financial and logistical feasibility.
This experience reinforced my understanding that effective governance requires diversity of expertise, legitimacy, and adaptability, while maintaining transparency and shared responsibility, even though building consensus among multiple actors may take time. It demonstrates my ability to apply Multistakeholder principles in both educational and Internet governance contexts.
Describe any Previous Board or organisational leadership experience you have
I have extensive leadership experience in academic, professional, and Internet governance organizations:
- Internet Society Morocco – Founding Member & President
- Moroccan IPv6 Task Force – Founding Member & President
- Mediterranean Federation of Internet Associations (FMAI) – President
- IGF Golbal : MAG Member (2009–2012)
- African At-Large Organisation (AFRALO) (ICANN) – Secretary General (2010–2013),
- African At-Large Organisation AFRALO (ICANN) - President (2013–2017)
- North African IGF – President (2016–2019)
- ICANN NomCom – Member (2017–2019)
- Arab IGF – Member (2017–2025)
- ICANN At-Large Community – Member (2023–2025)
At INPT (National Institute of Posts and Telecommunications), Morocco, I held senior leadership roles including Deputy Director during 31 years, Director of the Incubator, Head of Studies & Projects Division, and Director of Relations with ICT companies, gaining board-level experience in strategic planning, budgeting, international partnerships, and institutional governance.
Describe your skills and experience in business management and leadership
I have over three decades of leadership and management experience, including 31 years as Deputy Director at INPT (National Institute of Posts and Telecommunications), responsible for strategic planning, budgeting, HR, and program coordination.
As Director of the INPT Incubator, I guided startups on business models, financial planning, and innovation.
As Director of Relations between Academia and ICT Professionals, I built partnerships with industry, facilitated technology transfer, and aligned education with market needs.
My leadership extends to boards and federations at national, regional, and international levels, emphasizing ethics, competence, stability, and inclusive decision-making.
Describe any experience you have in one or more of the following fields: legal, policy environment relevant to ICT, telecom regulations, network operations, Internet services or non-profit governance in Africa.
At INPT (National Institute of Posts and Telecommunications), initially under Maroc Telecom and later under ANRT (Agence Nationale de Réglementation des Télécommunications), I collaborated closely with these institutions to align academic programs with regulatory frameworks, organize ICT events and conferences, and foster stakeholder engagement.
Through roles in ISOC Morocco, AFRALO, IGF NORTH AFRICA, FMAI and ICANN, I have extensive experience in non-profit governance in Africa, contributing to policy development, Internet standards, and Multistakeholder decision-making at regional and international levels.
Describe your understanding of International Business development as it relates to AfriNIC scope of work
International business development for AfriNIC involves promoting growth and adoption of Internet number resources in Africa, building partnerships with governments, regulators, service providers, and the technical community, and supporting infrastructure deployment, capacity building, and innovation.
My leadership at National Institute of Posts and Telecommunications, ICT incubators, ISOC Morocco, AFRALO, IGF NORTH AFRICA, FMAI (Mediterranean Federation of Internet Associations), and my long-standing involvement with ICANN (2003–2025), provides deep insight into business development in National and International ICT ecosystems. I understand AfriNIC’s role in fostering a resilient, autonomous, and connected African Internet ecosystem through strategic engagement and sustainable partnerships.