Last updated: 13 August 2026

1. Scope, Delegation and Operational Role

Interpoint is the delegated authority for domain names in the .CG Top-Level Domain, pursuant to the IANA/InterNIC delegation obtained on 14 January 1997.

The daily operation, technical management and commercial administration of the .CG domain space and related services are carried out by a Managing Company, trading as DNSAfrica.

DNSAfrica operates within a technical, administrative and contractual framework for the provision of .CG domain name services.

These Terms and Conditions govern:

• the use of DNSAfrica services;
• applications and requests relating to .CG domain names;
• the registration, renewal, maintenance, modification, restriction, suspension, blocking, holding and deletion of .CG domain names;
• the relationship between applicants, registrants and the Managing Company identified on invoices;
• the operational rules applicable to domain name delegation, technical resolution and DNS records;
• the review, verification and assessment procedures that may be applied before or after registration.

2. Contractual Relationship with the Managing Company

The contractual relationship for services actually accepted and provided is established with the Managing Company identified on the relevant invoice or service record.

For the avoidance of doubt, the submission of a registration request, support ticket, enquiry, application, modification request, supporting document or other communication does not, by itself, create any contractual obligation on DNSAfrica or the Managing Company to accept, register, delegate, maintain or provide the requested domain name or service.

A prospective registrant acquires no right or entitlement to a domain name merely because:

• the domain name appears technically available;
• the domain name is not expressly listed as restricted or undesirable;
• the applicant appears to satisfy minimum eligibility requirements;
• a request has been received, acknowledged, reviewed or processed;
• additional information or documentation has been requested;
• a support account has been created or verified;
• the applicant or a related person has previously obtained another domain name through DNSAfrica;
• the requested name has previously existed or been delegated;
• an invoice, quotation or payment request has been issued, unless DNSAfrica expressly confirms acceptance of the relevant registration.

Where DNSAfrica accepts and provides a service, the registrant:

• enters into a contractual relationship with the Managing Company;
• accepts these Terms and Conditions;
• accepts the operational framework of DNSAfrica;
• agrees to comply with all applicable policies, procedures, verification requirements and payment conditions.

These Terms and Conditions form an integral part of any contractual relationship with the Managing Company. They apply whether or not they are separately signed.

If the registrant does not accept these Terms and Conditions, the registrant must immediately stop using DNSAfrica services and may not register, maintain or use a .CG domain name through DNSAfrica.

3. Supremacy of These Terms

These Terms and Conditions supersede any conflicting terms, including the registrant’s own terms, purchase conditions, reseller conditions or other external conditions, unless expressly accepted in writing by the Managing Company.

No statement, correspondence, automated message, acknowledgement, invoice, support communication or previous practice shall modify these Terms or create an entitlement contrary to them unless expressly confirmed in writing by a person authorised to bind the Managing Company.

Any continued use of DNSAfrica services after publication of updated Terms constitutes acceptance of the current version, subject to any mandatory provisions of applicable law.

4. Nature of the .CG Domain Service

The registration, delegation, maintenance and use of a .CG domain name constitute a conditional service provided within a defined technical, administrative, contractual, security and policy framework.

Access to .CG domain names by non-local registrants is conditional, policy-based and subject to DNSAfrica’s operational rules, assessment procedures and continuing compliance requirements. Such access is not automatic and does not constitute an entitlement.

DNSAfrica may assess a registration request before acceptance and may require explanations, verification, supporting documentation or other information reasonably considered relevant to:

• the identity and location of the applicant;
• the identity and location of the intended registrant or effective user;
• the relationship between the applicant and the requested name;
• the proposed purpose and use of the domain;
• the credibility, consistency and plausibility of the information supplied;
• eligibility and compliance;
• security, abuse prevention and risk management;
• the integrity and credibility of the .CG namespace;
• proper domain administration and policy considerations.

The fact that a domain name is technically available or is not expressly prohibited, restricted or reserved does not create any right to registration.

Nothing in these Terms shall be interpreted as defining, granting, limiting or restricting any rights that may exist independently under frameworks applicable to genuine local citizens or entities. Matters relating to local eligibility and local administrative management fall within the framework established with the competent local authorities.

5. Definition of the Service Provided

The service provided by DNSAfrica is strictly limited to the technical resolution and maintenance of a domain name that has been accepted by DNSAfrica and for which the registrant pays, within the .CG domain space.

For this purpose, the service consists of recording and maintaining the relevant domain name entry in the systems and DNS servers that are, at the relevant time, authoritative for the .CG Top-Level Domain, and configuring the corresponding delegation information according to the DNS servers provided by the registrant, where technically valid and accepted.

Subject to full and timely payment and continuing compliance with these Terms, DNSAfrica will use reasonable efforts to maintain the domain name in an active technical resolution state within its operational framework for the duration corresponding to the period paid by the registrant.

For the avoidance of doubt, the paid period corresponds to the intended duration during which DNSAfrica will operate the domain name within its systems and within the .CG authoritative infrastructure available to DNSAfrica at the relevant time, subject to the limitations, conditions, compliance requirements and risks described in these Terms.

This service does not include:

• ownership or sale of the domain name;
• any proprietary right over the domain name;
• any unconditional right to initial registration or continued delegation;
• any guarantee of permanent or uninterrupted resolution;
• any guarantee that the authoritative infrastructure for .CG will remain unchanged;
• any guarantee that DNSAfrica will permanently retain the ability to maintain the relevant delegation within the .CG authoritative infrastructure;
• any responsibility for third-party DNS servers, hosting, websites, email services, subdomains, applications or content;
• any obligation of result beyond DNSAfrica’s best-effort technical operation.

The registrant acknowledges that the technical operation of the .CG domain space may evolve over time, including changes affecting the authoritative servers, registry systems, technical framework, operational procedures, policies, or the infrastructure used for .CG resolution.

If, for any reason outside DNSAfrica’s continuing operational framework, a domain name is no longer resolved through DNSAfrica’s infrastructure, or if DNSAfrica loses the ability to maintain the relevant delegation within the authoritative .CG infrastructure, such event shall not create any right to refund, compensation, indemnity, damages or other financial consequence against DNSAfrica, the Managing Company, or any person involved in the operation of the service, except where mandatory applicable law provides otherwise.

The registrant expressly acknowledges that payments are made for the service as provided within DNSAfrica’s operational framework at the relevant time, and for the duration paid, and not for any permanent right, ownership, guaranteed duration of technical authority, or guaranteed continuity of the .CG authoritative infrastructure.

The registrant further acknowledges that any liability potentially arising from the provision, interruption, modification, restriction, suspension, deletion, blocking, non-resolution or loss of ability to maintain such service shall be subject to the strict limitation of liability set out in these Terms, including the maximum amount of EUR 10 per domain name per year, to the extent permitted by applicable law.

6. Management of Local Domain Names

DNSAfrica technically manages the .CG domain space as a whole, including local and non-local domain names.

For domain names associated with local citizens or local entities, the administrative management is handled through the competent local authorities. These authorities may operate their own systems and procedures for handling local registrations, modifications and deletions.

DNSAfrica receives instructions from the competent local authorities regarding local domain names, including instructions relating to:

• creation;
• modification;
• deletion;
• administrative updates;
• eligibility-related matters.

The management of local domain names, including eligibility, allocation and administrative control, remains under the exclusive competence and responsibility of the competent local authorities.

DNSAfrica acts in a technical capacity and implements instructions received from those authorities within the established operational framework.

To the extent permitted by applicable law, DNSAfrica shall not be liable for decisions, instructions, refusals, delays, approvals, modifications or deletions originating from the competent local authorities.

7. Local Eligibility – Operational Definition

For operational purposes, and in accordance with the framework established with the competent local authorities, a local citizen or local entity may include the following categories.

7.1 Natural Persons

A natural person may be treated as local only where both of the following conditions are met:

• the person holds the nationality of the Republic of the Congo;
• the person has an actual, effective and continuing residence in the Republic of the Congo.

These conditions are cumulative.

7.2 Legal Entities and Organizations

A legal entity, association or organization may be treated as local only where it is:

• duly incorporated, registered or established under the laws of the Republic of the Congo;
• genuinely and effectively present and active in the Republic of the Congo.

7.3 Exclusion of Foreign Branches and Artificial Structures

Branches, representative offices or local establishments of foreign companies are not considered local entities for the purposes of DNSAfrica’s operational framework.

Entities controlled, directly or indirectly, by non-local persons or entities may be treated as non-local where the effective control, economic benefit or real use lies outside the Republic of the Congo.

Nominee registrations, proxy arrangements, fronting structures, straw-man arrangements or any artificial structure intended to simulate local eligibility are not permitted.

DNSAfrica may apply a substance-over-form assessment where reasonably necessary and may request information or documentation sufficient to establish the actual circumstances of the applicant, registrant, controlling person or effective user.

8. Public Interest, Pricing and Local Access Policy

DNSAfrica operates the .CG domain space with a public-interest objective consisting in facilitating fair and reasonable access to domain name resources, including through arrangements applicable to local users within the framework established with competent authorities.

DNSAfrica may, at its discretion, provide preferential conditions, reduced fees, free allocation, promotional offers or other pricing advantages to certain categories of users.

Such measures are discretionary, may evolve over time and do not create any vested right, permanent entitlement or expectation of continuation.

DNSAfrica may at any time:

• modify, suspend or discontinue any preferential condition;
• introduce administrative, maintenance or nominal fees;
• adjust pricing structures;
• withdraw promotional arrangements offered from time to time.

No past practice, repeated practice, promotion or temporary pricing advantage shall be interpreted as creating any permanent right, precedent or continuing obligation.

9. Registration Basis and Acceptance of Applications

Domain names are generally processed on a first-come, first-served basis, but this principle applies only within the framework of these Terms and does not create an unconditional right or entitlement to registration.

Every application remains subject to applicable policies, eligibility requirements, technical requirements, verification procedures, payment obligations, administrative review, security considerations and any restrictions applicable to the requested name or applicant.

The availability of a domain name, the absence of an express restriction, or apparent compliance with minimum eligibility requirements does not oblige DNSAfrica to accept, register or delegate that domain name.

DNSAfrica may require additional information, explanations, supporting documents or verification before determining whether a request may be accepted.

DNSAfrica may, where reasonably considered necessary for administrative, compliance, policy, security, integrity, anti-abuse or proper domain-management purposes:

• accept an application;
• defer an application;
• require additional review;
• require additional information or documentation;
• refuse an application;
• place a requested name on hold or under administrative restriction;
• reserve a requested name against further automated or ordinary registration attempts pending review.

DNSAfrica is under no obligation to enter into a commercial or contractual relationship with a prospective registrant merely because the requested domain name is technically available, has previously been available, or is not expressly classified as restricted or undesirable.

Where DNSAfrica declines an application before registration, no right in the requested domain name is created in favour of the applicant.

DNSAfrica may consider the overall circumstances of an application, including the information supplied, the requested name, the identity and location of the applicant, the apparent purpose of the request, any relationship between those elements, previous dealings, security indicators and other relevant circumstances.

10. Domain Levels

Domains may be registered directly under the .CG Top-Level Domain.

Registrations under .CO.CG or .COM.CG may also be accepted where available and supported.

11. Restricted Domain Names

Certain domain names may be classified as restricted.

Restricted domain names include, without limitation:

• domains under, or closely resembling, official or reserved namespaces such as gov, gouv, mil, edu, ac, int, net or similar designations;
• domains associated with governmental, institutional, administrative or public functions, or that may reasonably be perceived as such;
• domains requiring sponsorship, validation or authorization by competent authorities;
• domains that may create confusion with official or institutional entities;
• domains whose registration or use could reasonably create uncertainty regarding official status, authority, sponsorship, endorsement or institutional affiliation.

The above list is illustrative and not exhaustive.

Restricted domain names fall outside DNSAfrica’s ordinary commercial registration process. Such matters may be referred to, or require validation from, the competent local authorities.

DNSAfrica does not act as an approving authority, certification body or arbitrator for restricted domain names.

DNSAfrica may refuse, suspend, block, hold or delete a restricted domain name where required by the applicable framework, by authority instruction, where the domain does not have appropriate authorization, or where continued delegation would reasonably create an administrative, policy, legal, security or namespace-integrity concern.

12. Undesirable, Misleading or Inappropriate Domain Names

A domain name may be considered undesirable, misleading or otherwise unsuitable for registration or continued delegation where the domain name, the application, its circumstances, its actual or apparent intended use, or information reasonably available to DNSAfrica indicates that it is, appears to be, or may reasonably be used in a manner that is:

• illegal, fraudulent, abusive, deceptive or misleading;
• associated with phishing, spamming, malware, criminal activity or internet dysfunction;
• based on false promises, exploitation, addiction or unlawful conduct;
• infringing intellectual property rights or constituting cybersquatting;
• impersonating or misrepresenting a person, company, brand, institution or public figure;
• liable to create a materially false impression of identity, location, affiliation, authority, legitimacy or endorsement;
• used by non-local entities to falsely appear local or to obtain advantages reserved for local users;
• vulgar, offensive, defamatory or inappropriate;
• contrary to accepted internet best practices;
• harmful or potentially harmful to the integrity, credibility, stability, reputation or proper functioning of the .CG domain space;
• otherwise inconsistent with the responsible administration of the .CG namespace.

In assessing an application, DNSAfrica may consider the overall consistency and plausibility of the information supplied, including the applicant’s or registrant’s name, contact information, declared address, geographical location, stated activity, relationship to the requested domain name and intended use.

Where information appears materially inconsistent, implausible, contradictory or geographically incongruent, or where the circumstances of an application do not reasonably correspond with the identity, location, activity or purpose declared by the applicant, DNSAfrica may require additional clarification or supporting documentation.

Where such inconsistencies are not satisfactorily explained or resolved, DNSAfrica may refuse the application or take any other measure permitted by these Terms on the basis that the information supplied cannot reasonably be regarded as sufficiently reliable, coherent or verifiable for the purposes of registration or continued delegation.

The assessment shall be based on the overall circumstances and information reasonably available to DNSAfrica and shall not require proof of criminal or unlawful conduct before administrative action may be taken.

DNSAfrica may refuse, suspend, block, hold or delete undesirable, misleading or otherwise inappropriate domain names where reasonably necessary.

DNSAfrica does not proactively police domain names, but may consider information received from third parties, registrants, affected parties, technical systems, courts, competent authorities or other reasonably credible sources.

13. No Duty to Monitor, Investigate or Police the Internet

DNSAfrica does not act as:

• a supervisory authority;
• a law enforcement body;
• an investigative authority;
• a regulator of internet content;
• a guarantor of lawful use by registrants.

DNSAfrica has no obligation to continuously monitor domain names, websites, email services, subdomains, DNS usage, registrant conduct or compliance with these Terms.

Responsibility for lawful and compliant use rests entirely with the registrant.

DNSAfrica may nevertheless conduct such checks, verification, technical analysis or administrative review as it reasonably considers appropriate, without thereby assuming any general monitoring obligation.

DNSAfrica may act when it becomes aware of an issue, receives credible information, identifies an operational, administrative, compliance or security concern, or receives a request or instruction from competent authorities or courts.

The absence of investigation or action by DNSAfrica shall not be interpreted as approval, validation, waiver, acquiescence or acceptance of any domain name, conduct or activity.

Failure by DNSAfrica to act in one case shall not prevent DNSAfrica from acting in another case or subsequently acting in relation to the same domain name when additional information or circumstances become available.

14. Delegation Is Not Ownership

A domain name is not property and is not sold to the registrant.

A domain name is a conditional delegation, subject to these Terms, applicable policies, technical requirements and continuing compliance.

Registration, payment, renewal or continued technical resolution does not convert the delegation into an ownership right and does not prevent suspension, restriction, blocking, deletion or other action permitted under these Terms.

The registrant, administrative contact, billing contact or WHOIS contact may sometimes be referred to informally as the “domain owner”, but such wording does not create ownership rights.

Resale or transfer arrangements between private parties are not handled by DNSAfrica as a sale of property. DNSAfrica may provide procedures for changes of contacts or registrant information, subject to verification and approval.

15. Duties of DNSAfrica

DNSAfrica’s duties are limited to the technical and administrative services expressly described in these Terms.

For domain creation or maintenance, DNSAfrica records or maintains an accepted domain in the systems and DNS servers that are, at the relevant time, authoritative for the .CG Top-Level Domain, and points the corresponding NS records to the DNS servers specified by the registrant, provided the request remains accepted, compliant and technically valid.

This is the essential service rendered by DNSAfrica. It does not constitute the sale of a domain name and does not create any ownership right.

Subject to full and timely payment and continuing compliance, DNSAfrica will use reasonable efforts to maintain the technical resolution of the domain name for the period paid by the registrant, within DNSAfrica’s operational framework and subject to these Terms.

DNSAfrica provides services on a best-effort basis. It does not guarantee uninterrupted operation, continuous availability, absence of DNS disruption, permanent resolution, permanent eligibility, or permanent ability to maintain the relevant delegation within the .CG authoritative infrastructure.

DNSAfrica may maintain domain entries, WHOIS information and DNS server information based on legitimate and reasonable registrant requests that satisfy applicable verification and administrative requirements.

Any duty not expressly assumed by DNSAfrica remains the responsibility of the registrant.

16. Duties of Applicants, Registrants and Contacts

The applicant, registrant and any administrative or billing contact must:

• provide true, accurate, complete, coherent and verifiable information;
• ensure that information supplied is not materially misleading by statement, omission or presentation;
• keep WHOIS, contact and billing information updated;
• renew domains before expiry;
• pay invoices in due time;
• maintain compliant DNS servers;
• use domains lawfully and responsibly;
• respond to DNSAfrica communications where required;
• provide reasonably requested explanations, confirmations or supporting documents;
• promptly correct information that becomes materially inaccurate or misleading.

16.1 Accuracy and Reliance on Information Provided

Any information, statement, explanation, representation, document or supporting material provided to DNSAfrica in connection with a domain name or service request, whether at the time of the initial application or subsequently in response to a request for clarification, verification or additional information, forms part of the information upon which DNSAfrica may rely in assessing, accepting, maintaining, modifying or administering the relevant domain name and the associated commercial relationship.

This includes information provided through:

• registration forms;
• support accounts;
• support tickets;
• email correspondence;
• registration or modification templates;
• WHOIS submissions;
• invoices or billing communications;
• verification procedures;
• supporting documents;
• subsequent explanations or statements provided at DNSAfrica’s request.

The applicant, registrant and any person acting on their behalf are responsible for ensuring that all such information is true, accurate, complete, consistent and not misleading in any material respect at the time it is provided.

Where information previously supplied becomes materially inaccurate or misleading because of a subsequent change in circumstances, the registrant must inform DNSAfrica within a reasonable period and provide appropriate updated information.

16.2 False, Misleading or Materially Incomplete Information

The provision of materially false, fabricated, misleading, contradictory or deliberately incomplete information, the submission of false or misleading supporting documentation, or the intentional omission of material information where such omission creates a misleading impression constitutes a breach of these Terms and Conditions.

This applies whether the relevant information was provided:

• as part of an initial domain name application;
• during verification or eligibility checks;
• in response to a request for additional information or supporting documentation;
• in connection with a modification, renewal, restoration or change of registrant;
• through a support ticket, email or other communication with DNSAfrica;
• at any subsequent stage of the commercial or administrative relationship.

Information supplied in response to a specific request from DNSAfrica is deemed material where DNSAfrica reasonably relies, or could reasonably rely, upon that information in deciding whether to accept, maintain, modify, restrict or otherwise administer the relevant domain name.

A material misrepresentation discovered after a domain name has been registered shall not be considered cured merely because registration was previously accepted, payment was received, the domain name has remained active for a period of time, or DNSAfrica did not discover the issue earlier.

Where DNSAfrica reasonably determines that materially false, misleading, contradictory, fabricated or unreliable information has been supplied, DNSAfrica may take any measure permitted under these Terms, including refusal, suspension, blocking, holding, deletion, restriction of further requests or termination of the commercial relationship.

An inadvertent clerical error or minor discrepancy that is promptly and satisfactorily corrected shall not, by itself, constitute a serious breach unless the surrounding circumstances indicate deliberate misrepresentation, fraud, repeated inaccuracies, refusal to cooperate, or a material effect on DNSAfrica’s assessment.

16.3 Consistency and Verification

DNSAfrica may compare information supplied by an applicant or registrant with other information supplied in the same or previous requests and with information reasonably available for verification purposes.

DNSAfrica may consider material inconsistencies relating to identity, contact information, addresses, geographical location, nationality or residence where relevant to eligibility, corporate status, business activity, domain purpose, effective control, intended use or the relationship between the applicant and the requested domain name.

The existence of a material unexplained inconsistency may justify additional verification, deferral, refusal, suspension or other administrative action under these Terms.

When a person or entity acts as administrative or billing contact for several domains, problems affecting one domain may have consequences for other domains under the same contact, especially in cases of breach, non-payment, fraud, misleading information, unverifiable information or non-response.

Registrants should notify DNSAfrica if they wish to relinquish responsibility for domains under their management.

17. DNS and Technical Requirements

For each domain, the registrant must ensure that at least one authoritative DNS server is operational, compliant with applicable RFC standards, and responding correctly for the domain.

DNSAfrica may verify DNS resolution and technical compliance.

DNSAfrica may suspend or delete a domain that:

• does not resolve properly;
• has no functional authoritative DNS server;
• is technically misconfigured;
• causes or contributes to DNS instability;
• does not meet reasonable technical standards.

Where appropriate, DNSAfrica may provide a warning or allow a corrective period. Immediate action may be taken where required for operational stability, security, policy or compliance reasons.

DNSAfrica may use DNS monitoring, crawling, testing or other technical tools to determine non-resolution, technical failure or other operational conditions. The resulting logs or records may be used as evidence of technical status.

18. Non-Use of Domain Names

A domain name that is not used, does not resolve, or remains technically inactive may be suspended or deleted after notice where DNSAfrica considers corrective action reasonably necessary.

Registering a domain and leaving it inactive, unresolved or unpaid is not considered an acceptable use of the service.

Non-use or unusual use may also be considered together with other circumstances where DNSAfrica is reviewing the accuracy of information, the purpose of a registration, compliance, abuse, security or other administrative concerns.

Where a registrant no longer wishes to maintain a domain, the registrant should inform DNSAfrica before expiry.

19. Registration, Renewal and Expiry

It is the registrant’s responsibility to pay renewal fees in due time.

Renewal remains subject to continuing compliance with these Terms and does not create an unconditional right to continued delegation.

Failure to renew before expiry may result in suspension, deletion or loss of the domain without compensation.

DNSAfrica may send renewal reminders before expiry, but the absence of a reminder does not relieve the registrant of the duty to renew.

No reminder is guaranteed after expiry.

A domain left to lapse for non-payment may be deleted, kept on hold or restricted from re-registration at DNSAfrica’s discretion.

DNSAfrica may also subject a renewal to verification or review where circumstances reasonably justify further checks under these Terms.

20. Payment Identification and Allocation

Payments must clearly identify the domain names and periods concerned.

When paying invoices, the registrant must use the reference or communication field provided by the bank or payment processor to indicate the full list of domains paid for.

If this is not possible, the registrant must email DNSAfrica the list of domains paid for, the number of years paid, and the amount allocated to each domain.

Any payment not accompanied by clear domain references may remain unallocated.

DNSAfrica is not required to trace unclear payments or investigate their origin.

Domains may remain unpaid, suspended, uncreated or unrenewed until payment allocation is clear.

Receipt or processing of payment does not override any eligibility, verification, policy, compliance, security or other requirement under these Terms and does not, by itself, constitute unconditional acceptance of a registration or renewal.

Where a payment is later identified and allocated, the domain may be restored where possible and subject to DNSAfrica’s procedures, but no compensation is due for any suspension period, except where required by mandatory applicable law.

21. Payment Reversal, Chargeback or Cancellation

If a payment is rejected, reversed, cancelled, opposed, charged back or otherwise withdrawn after services have been provided, DNSAfrica may suspend, block or delete the relevant domain names.

This may apply even where a change of contact or registrant information occurred between payment and cancellation.

A payment reversal or cancellation may be treated as a serious breach of these Terms.

DNSAfrica may also restrict further registrations or services associated with a person, entity, account, contact information or payment method involved in unresolved payment reversal, fraud or chargeback circumstances.

22. Processing, Review and Manual Operations

DNSAfrica operates within a partially manual, human-operated environment.

Requests may require review, validation, documentation, verification, internal checks, technical analysis, risk assessment or coordination with third parties.

DNSAfrica may conduct a preliminary or subsequent review whenever reasonably considered necessary, including where:

• an applicant is not an existing customer;
• the requested domain name or intended use is unclear;
• information provided is incomplete or insufficient;
• the identity, address, location, activity or purpose appears inconsistent or requires clarification;
• the relationship between the applicant and the requested name is unclear;
• additional compliance, policy, security or abuse-prevention checks are considered appropriate;
• information becomes available after registration that reasonably justifies further review.

DNSAfrica may require information or documentation reasonably necessary to understand the circumstances, purpose, intended use, eligibility or legitimacy of a request.

No specific processing time, response time or execution time is guaranteed.

Processing delays, waiting periods, review procedures and manual handling are inherent to the nature of the service and shall not be considered a breach of contract.

DNSAfrica may prioritize, defer, batch, place on hold, refer, further review or refuse requests depending on workload, operational constraints, missing or insufficient information, inconsistencies, verification requirements, security concerns, abuse risks, policy considerations or proper namespace-management considerations.

Where the information provided is insufficient to allow DNSAfrica to reach a satisfactory determination, DNSAfrica may decline to consider the request further and close the application without registration.

DNSAfrica is not required to prove unlawful conduct before refusing an application where the application does not satisfactorily meet DNSAfrica’s reasonable administrative, verification, policy, security, integrity or risk-management requirements.

23. Communication, Email and Ticketing

DNSAfrica communicates primarily by email and support tickets.

Applicants and registrants must maintain valid, accessible and secure email addresses for all relevant support, WHOIS, administrative and billing contacts.

Registrants are responsible for ensuring that DNSAfrica emails and ticket notifications are not blocked by spam filters, antivirus systems, mail server misconfiguration or incorrect DNS email settings.

Registrants should ensure that SPF, DKIM and other relevant mail settings do not prevent receipt of DNSAfrica communications.

DNSAfrica may rely on outgoing email logs, ticketing logs, timestamps or mail service records as evidence that communications were sent.

Failure to receive or read an email does not automatically invalidate a communication properly sent to the recorded contact address.

Statements, explanations, confirmations and representations made by an applicant, registrant or authorised contact through email or the support ticketing system may be relied upon by DNSAfrica in the same manner as information submitted through a registration form or other formal procedure.

24. Support Accounts, Verification and Security

New customers may be required to sign up for and verify a support account before using DNSAfrica services.

Verification of a support account is an administrative and security requirement only. Verification of an email address or support account does not constitute approval of a domain name application, recognition of eligibility, acceptance as a customer for any particular service, or creation of any right to registration.

The support system may be operated through a third-party ticketing platform.

Applicants and registrants must keep their support accounts accurate, verified and secured with appropriate credentials.

DNSAfrica may require additional verification notwithstanding previous verification of the support account or email address.

If a registrant receives a ticket notification for a request they did not make, they must immediately notify DNSAfrica through the same ticket or by appropriate means.

DNSAfrica is not responsible for unauthorized access to a registrant’s email account, support account or systems.

Requests originating from recorded administrative or billing email addresses may be treated as legitimate unless DNSAfrica has reason to believe otherwise.

25. Validity of Notices, Requests and Verification Enquiries

Notifications, invoices, reminders, warnings, requests for information, verification requests, deletion notices or other communications sent to current support, WHOIS, administrative or billing contacts may be relied upon by DNSAfrica.

If the registrant contests a notice, invoice, WHOIS entry, warning or other communication, the registrant must notify DNSAfrica promptly.

DNSAfrica may request confirmation, clarification, verification, explanations or supporting documentation before acting on a domain-related request or while reviewing an existing registration.

Responses supplied to such requests form part of the administrative record and are subject to the accuracy and reliability requirements set out in Article 16.

If confirmation or additional information is requested and no response is received within the stated period, or within a reasonable period where no period is expressly stated, DNSAfrica may ignore, defer, cancel or close the request.

In relation to an existing domain name, failure to respond to a material verification, compliance or administrative enquiry may lead to restriction, hold, suspension, deletion or termination where reasonably appropriate.

A response that does not adequately address the information requested may be treated as an insufficient response and may result in further verification or administrative action.

26. Confidentiality of Communications

DNSAfrica correspondence, emails, tickets, invoices, WHOIS exchanges and support communications are private and confidential.

They may not be publicly posted, disclosed or distributed to third parties except where required by law, by competent authority, for legitimate professional advice or dispute resolution where legally permitted, or with DNSAfrica’s consent.

27. Modification of WHOIS, DNS Servers and Contacts

Occasional simple modifications of WHOIS contacts or DNS servers may be processed without charge where they are reasonable, limited and do not constitute a full change of registrant.

Bulk modifications, repetitive requests, unclear requests, conflicting requests, requests involving multiple domains, or requests requiring manual database intervention may be subject to processing fees.

DNSAfrica may require additional documents, explanations, verification or procedures to establish the legitimacy, authority and circumstances of requests.

DNSAfrica may defer or refuse a modification where the information provided is insufficient, inconsistent, unverifiable, disputed or otherwise gives rise to a reasonable administrative, policy, security or compliance concern.

28. Full Change of Registrant

A full change of registrant includes a change of both administrative and billing contacts, or any change resulting in transfer of effective control to a different legal person or entity.

A full change of registrant is not a simple WHOIS correction.

DNSAfrica may require:

• a formal letter of authorization;
• letterhead, signature and stamps where applicable;
• supporting corporate documentation;
• manual identity verification;
• information concerning effective ownership or control where relevant;
• additional security procedures.

DNSAfrica may require that the domain be renewed before a full change of registrant is processed, especially where the domain expires within one year.

A time period of not less than one year may be applied between multiple full change requests.

The modification of one contact followed shortly by modification of another contact may be treated as a full change of registrant.

DNSAfrica may refuse or defer a change of registrant where the circumstances are unclear, disputed, inconsistent, unverifiable, potentially misleading or otherwise incompatible with these Terms.

29. Processing Fees

DNSAfrica may apply processing fees for:

• bulk modifications;
• manual database intervention;
• manual identification or verification procedures;
• restoration of expired, blocked or suspended domains;
• release of a domain for public re-registration;
• requests outside ordinary processing.

Restoration or reinstatement of an expired, blocked, restricted or suspended domain is at DNSAfrica’s discretion, subject to these Terms, and may attract a fee.

Manual identification or enhanced verification procedures may also attract a fee.

Payment of a processing fee does not guarantee acceptance, restoration, modification or registration of a domain name.

30. Resellers

Resellers have no automatic contractual status with DNSAfrica unless expressly agreed in writing.

Resellers are not automatically entitled to rebates or special conditions.

Special arrangements may be considered for significant volumes, at DNSAfrica’s discretion.

A reseller, intermediary or representative must not provide DNSAfrica with false, misleading or materially incomplete information concerning the identity, eligibility, location, effective user or intended use of a domain name.

Actions or misrepresentations by a reseller or intermediary acting on behalf of a registrant may be treated as actions or misrepresentations associated with the relevant application or registration.

31. Legal Responsibility for Domain Use

The registrant is solely responsible for all consequences of the use of the domain name, including:

• websites;
• emails;
• subdomains;
• services or content associated with any FQDN ending with the registered domain name;
• civil, commercial, administrative or criminal consequences.

Where WHOIS information or other registration information is hidden, inaccurate, incomplete, inconsistent or misleading, the applicant, effective user, controlling person or other person reasonably identified as responsible may be treated as relevant to DNSAfrica’s administrative assessment.

DNSAfrica is not responsible for content made available through a delegated domain name.

DNSAfrica may assist competent local authorities or courts where required, within a reasonable and technical cooperation framework.

A simple complaint addressed only to DNSAfrica may not be sufficient to trigger action unless DNSAfrica considers action appropriate or the complaint is supported by credible information, competent authority involvement, legal process or other relevant circumstances.

Conversely, DNSAfrica retains the right to take administrative or technical action under these Terms without requiring a court order where the applicable contractual grounds for such action are reasonably satisfied.

32. Refusal, Restriction, Suspension, Blocking, Deletion and Enforcement

DNSAfrica may refuse, defer, restrict, suspend, delete, block, hold, decline to renew or otherwise take administrative action in relation to a domain name or application where reasonably necessary or appropriate within its operational, contractual, security and policy framework.

Such action may include, without limitation, cases involving:

• breach of these Terms;
• failure to satisfy an eligibility, verification or administrative requirement;
• non-payment;
• payment reversal, cancellation or chargeback;
• materially inaccurate, false, fabricated, misleading, contradictory, incomplete or unverifiable information;
• information supplied during an initial application or any subsequent review that proves materially false or misleading;
• failure or refusal to provide reasonably requested information, explanations, confirmations or documentation;
• material unexplained inconsistencies between identity, contact details, geographical location, declared activity, intended use or the requested domain name;
• DNS non-resolution;
• technical misconfiguration;
• restricted, undesirable, misleading or otherwise inappropriate status;
• fraud, attempted fraud, abuse or misleading conduct;
• impersonation or misrepresentation;
• attempts to circumvent local eligibility, registration restrictions or previous administrative decisions;
• nominee, proxy, fronting or artificial arrangements prohibited by these Terms;
• non-response to DNSAfrica communications;
• operational, administrative, compliance, policy, security, reputational, abuse-prevention or stability concerns;
• concerns relating to the integrity, credibility or responsible administration of the .CG namespace;
• authority or court instructions;
• legal risk;
• loss of ability to maintain the relevant delegation within the .CG authoritative infrastructure;
• other circumstances materially inconsistent with these Terms or DNSAfrica’s proper administration of the .CG domain service.

The above grounds are illustrative and not exhaustive. DNSAfrica may consider the overall circumstances and combined effect of relevant factors rather than assessing each factor in isolation.

DNSAfrica is not required to establish criminal conduct, fraud beyond reasonable doubt, or a judicially determined violation before taking contractual or administrative action where reasonable grounds exist under these Terms.

Where appropriate, DNSAfrica may provide notice or allow corrective action. However, advance notice is not guaranteed and immediate action may be taken where DNSAfrica reasonably considers this necessary because of urgency, operational stability, security, abuse, authority instruction, legal risk, serious breach, misleading information or namespace-integrity considerations.

DNSAfrica may determine that a temporary hold, restriction or suspension is appropriate while information is being reviewed or clarification is awaited.

Where a registration application is refused or an existing registration gives rise to serious administrative, compliance, security, abuse or policy concerns, DNSAfrica may place the relevant domain name under administrative restriction and may prevent, defer or subject to further review any subsequent attempt to register the same domain name.

DNSAfrica may also consider whether a subsequent application for the same or a substantially similar domain name appears intended to circumvent an earlier refusal, restriction, suspension or other administrative decision.

Submitting the same request through another support account, email address, intermediary, registrant, reseller or related person does not create an automatic right to reconsideration or registration.

Where materially false or misleading information is discovered after registration, DNSAfrica may take action notwithstanding that the domain was previously accepted, renewed, paid for or maintained for a period of time.

No previous decision by DNSAfrica to accept, maintain, renew or refrain from taking action in relation to a domain name constitutes a waiver of DNSAfrica’s ability to act subsequently when additional facts, information or circumstances become known.

Suspension, restriction, blocking or deletion undertaken in accordance with these Terms does not entitle the registrant to compensation, except where required by mandatory applicable law.

33. Effect on Related Domains, Accounts and Requests

Where a registrant, applicant, administrative contact, billing contact, effective user, account or related entity is associated with multiple domains, a serious breach or material concern affecting one domain may affect other domains or requests associated with the same person, entity, contact details, account or effective control.

DNSAfrica may consider common contact information, payment information, effective control, repeated conduct, related applications or other relevant connections in assessing whether domains or requests are related.

DNSAfrica may suspend, restrict, hold, refuse or terminate related services where reasonably necessary to manage risk, prevent abuse, prevent circumvention or enforce these Terms.

Measures affecting related domains shall be proportionate to the nature and seriousness of the circumstances as reasonably assessed by DNSAfrica.

34. Refusal of Further Services and Termination of Commercial Relationship

Any serious breach of these Terms, material payment issue, materially false or misleading information, fraudulent or misleading conduct, abuse, repeated non-response, circumvention attempt, security concern, or action justifying suspension or deletion of a domain may lead to termination of the commercial relationship.

DNSAfrica may also decline to enter into a commercial relationship with a prospective registrant where an application does not satisfactorily meet the requirements of these Terms or where DNSAfrica reasonably considers that accepting the relationship would create an administrative, compliance, security, abuse, policy or namespace-integrity concern.

Termination may affect all domains associated with the same registrant, administrative contact, billing contact, account or effective user where reasonably appropriate.

For less serious cases, DNSAfrica may instead:

• request clarification or corrective action;
• suspend modifications;
• place domains or requests on hold;
• apply additional verification requirements;
• decline new registrations;
• defer termination until expiry;
• refuse further processing.

Termination or refusal of further services does not create any entitlement to future registrations or continuation of services beyond rights, if any, that cannot lawfully be excluded.

35. Liability and Limitation of Liability

DNSAfrica, the Managing Company identified on invoices, and their respective officers, directors, employees, contractors and agents provide services on a best-effort basis.

To the maximum extent permitted by applicable law, they shall not be liable for loss, damage or claims arising from or relating to:

• refusal or non-acceptance of a registration application;
• delay, review, verification or additional information requirements;
• administrative restriction or holding of a requested domain name;
• domain suspension, restriction, blocking, deletion, non-renewal or non-resolution;
• refusal to process a modification, transfer, restoration or other request;
• termination or refusal of a commercial relationship;
• actions reasonably taken on the basis of information available to DNSAfrica at the relevant time;
• indirect, incidental or consequential damages;
• loss of business, revenue, profits, data, goodwill or opportunity;
• loss of ability to register or use a particular domain name;
• loss of ability to maintain the relevant delegation within the .CG authoritative infrastructure;
• technical disruptions inherent to internet infrastructure;
• failure to detect or prevent misuse;
• actions taken under these Terms or upon authority or court request.

Nothing in these Terms shall require DNSAfrica to accept a registration, continue a delegation or refrain from taking an action expressly permitted by these Terms merely because an applicant or registrant may suffer commercial, reputational or other consequences as a result.

To the maximum extent permitted by applicable law, a decision made reasonably and in good faith within the scope of these Terms concerning acceptance, refusal, verification, restriction, suspension, blocking, deletion, renewal or continued provision of services shall not, by itself, constitute a breach of contract or give rise to compensation.

In all circumstances, and irrespective of the legal basis of the claim, including contract, tort, negligence, statutory claim or otherwise, DNSAfrica’s total aggregate liability, the Managing Company’s total aggregate liability, and the exclusive monetary remedy available to the registrant shall be strictly limited to the lower of:

• the amount actually paid by the registrant for the affected domain name in the preceding twelve months; or
• EUR 10 per affected domain name per year.

Where a claim concerns an application that was never accepted and for which no domain service was provided, any liability that cannot lawfully be excluded shall, to the maximum extent permitted by applicable law, be limited to the amount actually paid to DNSAfrica specifically in respect of that application.

This limitation applies collectively and individually to DNSAfrica, the Managing Company and all persons or entities involved in the provision, operation or administration of the services.

The registrant expressly acknowledges that this limitation constitutes an essential condition of the contractual relationship and reflects the nature, pricing, technical characteristics, administrative framework and best-effort basis of the services provided.

No claim should be brought against officers, directors, employees, contractors or agents in their personal capacity in relation to services governed by these Terms, to the extent permitted by applicable law.

Nothing in these Terms excludes or limits liability where such exclusion or limitation is prohibited by mandatory applicable law.

36. Refunds and Compensation

Payments are generally non-refundable once the corresponding service has been accepted and performed, subject to mandatory applicable law and any express billing arrangement.

DNSAfrica does not provide compensation for suspended, restricted, deleted, expired, non-renewed, blocked or technically misconfigured domains where the action results from these Terms, non-compliance, materially inaccurate or misleading information, payment issues, authority instruction, registrant responsibility, or loss of ability to maintain the relevant delegation within the .CG authoritative infrastructure.

Where payment fraud is duly reported to competent authorities, DNSAfrica may consider appropriate treatment of the payment at its discretion.

Outstanding amounts may, where appropriate, be assigned to other domains.

All refund or compensation claims, where not excluded, remain subject to the limitation of liability set out in these Terms, including the maximum amount of EUR 10 per domain name per year, to the extent permitted by applicable law.

37. Jurisdictional Compatibility and Mandatory Law

If the law applicable to a registrant does not allow the enforcement of essential provisions of these Terms, including limitations of liability, payment finality, absence of ownership rights, administrative enforcement provisions or jurisdiction clauses, the registrant must not use DNSAfrica services to the extent that such incompatibility prevents the contractual framework from operating as intended.

Where such incompatibility arises after registration, the registrant must cease using the services and request appropriate closure or transfer procedures where available.

Nothing in these Terms is intended to exclude rights or liabilities that cannot legally be excluded under mandatory applicable law.

Where a provision of these Terms cannot be enforced in its entirety under mandatory applicable law, it shall be interpreted and applied to the maximum extent lawfully permitted without, where possible, affecting the validity of the remaining provisions.

38. Applicable Law and Jurisdiction

Any dispute relating to DNSAfrica services, this website, an application, domain registration, renewal, use, delegation, modification, restriction, suspension, blocking, refusal or deletion shall be submitted to the competent courts associated with the Managing Company identified on invoices.

Any other jurisdiction is excluded to the extent permitted by applicable law.

DNSAfrica may, at its discretion, accept an arbitral, mediation or expert procedure in intellectual property or domain-related matters. Such procedure is not automatic unless expressly accepted by DNSAfrica.

References to local authorities mean the competent authorities relevant to the .CG domain framework.

39. Institutional Neutrality and Administrative Decisions

DNSAfrica operates under a principle of neutrality and non-interference.

Its activities are limited to the technical and administrative operation of domain name services within its defined mandate.

DNSAfrica does not take positions on external commentary, political matters, unrelated disputes, interpretation or matters outside the scope of its services.

The principle of institutional neutrality does not prevent DNSAfrica from making technical, contractual, administrative, security, eligibility or policy decisions necessary for the proper operation and management of the .CG domain space.

A refusal, restriction, suspension, blocking or deletion undertaken under these Terms shall not, merely by reason of such action, be interpreted as a statement by DNSAfrica on matters outside its operational mandate.

Any issues unrelated to the operational management of the .CG domain space fall outside DNSAfrica’s role and, where applicable, within the competence of the relevant authorities.

40. Assistance to Authorities

DNSAfrica may cooperate with competent authorities or courts where required or appropriate.

Such cooperation is provided on a reasonable-efforts basis and does not create a general duty to monitor, investigate or enforce compliance proactively.

DNSAfrica may preserve or provide relevant technical or administrative information where required by applicable law, legal process or competent authority instruction.

Nothing in this Article prevents DNSAfrica from independently exercising its contractual or administrative rights under these Terms where appropriate.

41. Updates to These Terms

DNSAfrica may update these Terms and Conditions from time to time in order to reflect changes in operational procedures, policies, technical requirements, security requirements, commercial arrangements, legal requirements or the administration of the .CG domain space.

The current online version supersedes previous versions and any conflicting conditions.

Continued use of DNSAfrica services after publication of updated Terms constitutes acceptance of the updated Terms, subject to mandatory applicable law.

No previous version of these Terms, previous practice, failure to exercise a right, or previous treatment of another applicant or registrant shall create a permanent entitlement, precedent or waiver preventing DNSAfrica from applying the current Terms.

42. Disclaimers and Entire Operational Framework

DNSAfrica’s disclaimers form part of these Terms and Conditions.

By using DNSAfrica services, the registrant accepts both these Terms and the applicable disclaimers.

These Terms, together with applicable DNSAfrica policies, procedures, disclaimers, accepted service arrangements and any specific written conditions expressly agreed by the Managing Company, constitute the operational and contractual framework applicable to DNSAfrica services.

No omission to exercise, delay in exercising, or partial exercise of any right or remedy available to DNSAfrica under these Terms shall constitute a waiver of that right or remedy.

If one provision of these Terms is held invalid or unenforceable, the remaining provisions shall remain in effect to the maximum extent permitted by applicable law.

All services provided by DNSAfrica are subject to the limitation of liability defined in these Terms, including a maximum liability of EUR 10 per affected domain name per year, to the extent permitted by applicable law.