Cybercrime threats surge globally with significant rise in Africa

Cybersecurity has evolved into a critical strategic governance issue for business leaders as technical threats like phishing, ransomware, and AI-driven attacks become more sophisticated. Beyond technical tools, cybersecurity now involves direct management responsibility to mitigate financial, legal, and reputational risks while ensuring compliance with regulations such as GDPR.

In Africa, the digital threat landscape is expanding rapidly alongside the continent's digital transformation. A Mastercard report, ‘Africa’s Digital Defense Race’, reveals that cyber threats in Africa grew by 421.4% between 2016 and 2025, significantly outpacing the global average increase of 307.3%.

In 2025, approximately 70,000 cyber incidents were observed in Africa, averaging one attack every eight minutes. Major digital economies, including Nigeria, South Africa, Morocco, and Kenya, represent nearly 55% of the continent's recorded cyber events, highlighting the vulnerability of expanding electronic payment platforms and administrative databases.