Dear Colleagues, AfriNIC is the emerging Regional Internet Registry (RIR) for the African and Indian Ocean region. In preparation for its final recognition expected in April by ICANN, AfriNIC began operating as a fully functional RIR for the African region on 21 February 2005. LIRs in the AfriNIC service region can now request IP address space, AS Numbers and reverse delegation from AfriNIC and enter objects in the AfriNIC Whois Database. Details of the RIPE NCC to AfriNIC transition can be found at: http://www.ripe.net/info/resource-admin/afrinic/ If you have questions regarding the transition to AfriNIC, please contacts us at <afritrans@ripe.net>. Regards, Axel Pawlik RIPE NCC