The policy for assignment of AS Numbers in the region (Please see
http://www.afrinic.net/docs/policies/afpol-asn0604.htm) requires AfriNIC to
treat requests for AS Numbers w.e.f 01/01/2009 as follows:


     On 1 January 2009 the registry will process applications that
     specifically request 2-byte only AS Numbers and allocate such
     AS Numbers as requested by the applicant. In the absence of any
     specific request for a 2-byte only AS Number, a 4-byte only AS
     Number will be allocated by the registry.


We would therefore like to inform the community that from 01/01/2009,
unless a 2-byte AS Number has been explicitly requested, AfriNIC will be
assigning 4-byte AS Numbers to any organization requiring an AS Number.

It is important to check that your routers as well as those of your peers,
can understand 4-byte ASNs, as this is a relatively new implementation.

For more information about 4-byte AS Numbers, please see:

http://www.iana.org/assignments/as-numbers/
http://www.ietf.org/rfc/rfc4893.txt