Faith Nyasuguta
A new report from INTERPOL has revealed a dramatic rise in cybercrime across Africa, warning that the continent is becoming a major hotspot for digital threats. According to the 2025 Africa Cyberthreat Assessment, cyber-related offences now make up more than 30% of all reported crimes in Western and Eastern Africa. The report draws on data from African law enforcement agencies and private sector partners and paints a sobering picture of a fast-evolving cyber threat landscape.
Online scams – particularly phishing attacks – are the most frequently reported cybercrimes. These scams have surged by up to 3,000% in certain countries, driven by increasingly sophisticated tactics. Other major threats include ransomware, business email compromise (BEC) and digital sextortion. Criminals are also now exploiting artificial intelligence to generate fake content and extort victims.
Ransomware detections rose sharply in 2024, with South Africa and Egypt topping the list at 17,849 and 12,281 detections respectively. Other affected countries include Nigeria (3,459 detections) and Kenya (3,030). These attacks have targeted both public and private institutions. Kenya’s Urban Roads Authority and Nigeria’s National Bureau of Statistics are among the victims of these breaches.
Business email compromise has also intensified, particularly in West Africa. Eleven African countries now account for the bulk of BEC activity originating from the continent. Syndicates such as the notorious Black Axe have turned BEC fraud into highly organized, multimillion-dollar criminal enterprises that operate across borders.
Digital sextortion is another rising concern. Sixty percent of countries surveyed by INTERPOL reported an increase in cases where explicit images are used to blackmail victims. The images may be authentic – shared voluntarily or obtained through coercion – or artificially generated. Victims are often manipulated into sending money or more compromising content under threat of exposure.
Yet while cybercrime accelerates, Africa’s capacity to respond remains weak. Around 75% of countries said their legal frameworks and prosecution systems are inadequate. Law enforcement agencies lack the tools, training and infrastructure necessary to tackle digital crimes. Only 30% of African countries have an official system to report cyber incidents and fewer than 20% maintain a centralized cyber threat intelligence database.
Cross-border cooperation is also limited. Eighty-six percent of countries said their international coordination mechanisms are underdeveloped. Many investigations are slowed by bureaucratic hurdles, lack of shared platforms and limited access to foreign-hosted data. Meanwhile, nearly 90% of African countries cited weak partnerships with the private sector, citing poor institutional readiness and unclear engagement channels as obstacles.
Despite these challenges, INTERPOL’s report does highlight progress. Many African governments are improving cybercrime laws and aligning them with international standards. Others are investing in digital forensics tools and building specialized cybercrime units. Two major INTERPOL-led operations – Operation Serengeti and Operation Red Card – demonstrated the power of regional cooperation. These efforts led to over 1,000 arrests and dismantled hundreds of thousands of malicious digital networks.
INTERPOL’s Cybercrime Director Neal Jetton noted that emerging threats like AI-driven fraud demand urgent attention and international collaboration. “No single agency or country can face these challenges alone,” he said. Ambassador Jalel Chelba, Acting Executive Director of AFRIPOL, also emphasized the high stakes, stating, “Cybersecurity is not merely a technical issue; it has become a fundamental pillar of stability, peace, and sustainable development in Africa.”
To guide future action, INTERPOL’s report outlines six key recommendations: enhancing international and regional cooperation, increasing public awareness, adopting emerging technologies, improving private sector collaboration, strengthening legal systems and investing in core infrastructure.
As Africa undergoes rapid digital transformation – through e-government programs, mobile banking, and online education – it becomes increasingly vulnerable to cyber threats. The report highlights that without immediate and strategic action, cybercrime could threaten Africa’s economic resilience, political stability and citizen trust.
Cybercrime in Africa is no longer a niche issue – it is a top-tier security concern. The latest INTERPOL report serves as both a warning and a call to action for African governments, businesses and citizens alike.
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