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[SITUATION] · [QUIET] · [TECHNOLOGY]

2 clusters · 6 sources · 4 days · First seen · Last updated

Cyberattack escalation in Africa

Overview

A Mastercard report titled ‘Africa’s Digital Defense Race’ highlights a significant surge in cyberattacks across Africa. Between 2016 and 2025, cyber threats on the continent increased by 421%, a rate that outpaces the global increase of 307% during the same period.

In 2025, approximately 70,000 cyber incidents were recorded in Africa, averaging one attack every eight minutes. The technology, government, and financial services sectors are primary targets, with attackers focusing on personal and financial data. Major digital economies, including Nigeria, South Africa, Morocco, and Kenya, account for nearly 55% of these recorded events.

The report notes that the rapid digital transformation of the continent is accompanied by a cybersecurity talent shortage of roughly 200,000 roles. To address these vulnerabilities and the increasing sophistication of threats like ransomware and AI-driven attacks, Mastercard is establishing an Africa Cybersecurity Center of Excellence to facilitate threat intelligence exchange.

Entities

Africa

Timeline

  1. [TECHNOLOGY] 3 sources
    Cybercrime threats surge globally with significant rise in Africa

    Cyber threats in Africa rose by over 421% between 2016 and 2025, outpacing global trends as digital economies expand and cybersecurity becomes a vital governance priority for businesses.

  2. [TECHNOLOGY] 3 sources
    Mastercard report reveals surge in African cyberattacks

    A Mastercard report shows African cyberattacks rose 421% since 2016, with 69,236 incidents in 2025 and a 200,000-person cybersecurity talent gap across the continent.

Sources

davfi.fr · esteval.fr · kenya-today.com · lenew.ma · siliconvalley.ma · sunuker.com