Cybercrime is now among the fastest-growing threats to public safety in Africa, with online scams, ransomware attacks, and digital extortion rapidly becoming the continent’s most pressing criminal issues.
This was laid bare in the newly released 2025 Africa Cyberthreat Assessment Report by INTERPOL, which reveals a troubling picture of a continent under siege from complex and well-organised cybercriminals.
The report draws on data submitted by African governments and private sector firms working with INTERPOL. Two-thirds of the countries surveyed admitted that cyber-related offences now make up a medium-to-high portion of their overall crime rate. In parts of West and East Africa, cybercrime accounts for over 30% of all reported criminal incidents.
One of the most jarring findings in the report is the sheer explosion in scam attempts. Countries such as Kenya, Nigeria, and South Africa have reported up to 3,000% increases in scam-related alerts within the last year alone.
According to Kaspersky, a key contributor to the report, this surge is largely driven by phishing—emails and messages designed to trick users into giving up personal or financial information.
But phishing is just the beginning. The report highlights an increase in ransomware attacks across digitally advanced countries. “Ransomware detections in Africa also rose in 2024, with South Africa and Egypt suffering the highest number, at 17,849 and 12,281 detections respectively, according to data from Trend Micro, followed by other highly digitized economies such as Nigeria (3,459) and Kenya (3,030).”
These attacks are disrupting individuals, businesses, and going after national institutions. Kenya’s Urban Roads Authority was one of the high-profile victims of a breach, while Nigeria’s National Bureau of Statistics suffered an attack on its databases.
Even more disturbing is the rise in Business Email Compromise (BEC) schemes, with West Africa emerging as a hotbed of syndicates such as the notorious Black Axe. These groups operate highly structured fraud networks that have siphoned millions from victims worldwide, often masquerading as legitimate organisations.
Another growing area of concern is digital sextortion. INTERPOL reported a 60% spike in such cases. Criminals often manipulate victims into sharing intimate content or use fake, AI-generated images to extort them. These attacks can be emotionally devastating and difficult to prosecute, especially in societies where victims may be reluctant to report such cases.
INTERPOL’s Cybercrime Director, Neal Jetton, stressed the gravity of the situation. “This fourth edition of the INTERPOL African Cyberthreat Assessment provides a vital snapshot of the current situation, informed by operational intelligence, extensive law enforcement engagement, and strategic private-sector collaboration. It paints a clear picture of a threat landscape in flux, with emerging dangers like AI-driven fraud that demand urgent attention. No single agency or country can face these challenges alone.”
The institutional response, however, is still inadequate. The report notes that 75% of African countries admitted their cybercrime laws and prosecutorial frameworks are outdated or insufficient. Even worse, 95% say they lack the training, tools, and resources to implement the laws that already exist.
Many countries still lack the basics: just 30% have a formal incident reporting system, 29% possess a digital evidence repository, and only 19% maintain a cyberthreat intelligence database.
This limited capacity seriously affects cross-border investigations and slows down international cooperation. 86% of countries said collaboration with foreign agencies is hampered by red tape and logistical constraints.
Public-private partnerships are another weak link. 89% of countries surveyed said their cooperation with companies that could provide vital data or technical expertise is subpar, mostly due to poor coordination structures or outdated regulations.
With the challenges, however, there are small signs of progress. A growing number of African nations have begun aligning their cybersecurity legislation with global standards. Some have invested in specialised cybercrime units and forensic labs.
These advances were showcased in INTERPOL-led operations such as Operation Serengeti and Operation Red Card, which led to more than 1,000 arrests and the takedown of hundreds of thousands of malicious networks.
Ambassador Jalel Chelba, acting executive director of AFRIPOL, noted that cybercrime is now a governance issue. “Cybersecurity is not merely a technical issue; it has become a fundamental pillar of stability, peace, and sustainable development in Africa. It directly concerns the digital sovereignty of states, the resilience of our institutions, citizen trust, and the proper functioning of our economies.”
To strengthen Africa’s ability to tackle this rising tide of cyber threats, INTERPOL recommends six immediate priorities: boost regional and international cooperation; run public awareness campaigns; modernise cybercrime laws; upgrade operational infrastructure; adopt advanced investigative technologies; and deepen collaboration with the private sector.
The report forms part of INTERPOL’s African Joint Operation against Cybercrime (AFJOC) programme, supported by the UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office, and it benefits from contributions by global cybersecurity firms like Group-IB, Trend Micro, Bi.Zone, and Kaspersky.
Without urgent, coordinated action across governments, security agencies, and the tech sector, Africa may find itself overwhelmed by a threat that knows no borders and stops at nothing.
