INTERPOL warns Africa is becoming a cybercrime hotbed

INTERPOL has warned that Africa is emerging as a major hub for cybercrime, describing the shift as an evolution from isolated incidents into an “industrialized, borderless ecosystem.” The warning comes in the African Cyberthreat Assessment Report 2026, which incorporates data from law enforcement across 36 African states.

As the continent undergoes rapid digitalization—marked by over 1.1 billion mobile subscriptions and $1.1 trillion in digital transactions in 2025—weak data and network security have left the region vulnerable to financially motivated attackers. INTERPOL’s cybercrime unit director, Neal Jetton, noted that attackers are scanning networks to exploit vulnerabilities as transactions increasingly move online.

Artificial intelligence is playing a significant role in these activities, with 55% of reported cybercrimes in Africa involving AI, including the use of deepfakes. While some local agencies are adopting AI for threat detection and digital forensics, the rapid technological expansion continues to outpace security measures.