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.

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