Africa is facing a rapidly changing cyber threat landscape, with artificial intelligence emerging as a major force behind criminal activity. A new INTERPOL report, “African Cyberthreat Assessment Report 2026”, says AI is now linked to more than 55% of reported cybercrime across the continent, while financial losses have more than doubled to $484 million since 2024.
INTERPOL Director of Cybercrime Neal Jetton said: “Cybercrime has emerged as one of the most significant criminal threats to the region. AI is automating every stage of a cyberattack from reconnaissance and phishing to extortion and evasion. However, we see that when countries work together, cybercriminal infrastructure can be identified, disrupted and dismantled.”
The report found that 55% of reported cybercrimes involve AI-powered methods such as automated phishing, ransomware, social engineering and identity fraud. Losses increased from $192 million to $484 million in 2025, largely driven by AI-enabled scams and credential harvesting.
East Africa has emerged as a major centre for mobile money fraud and ransomware targeting infrastructure. Central and West Africa are seeing Business Email Compromise (BEC) and romance scams, while Southern Africa’s high connectivity continues to attract global threat actors.
The report also recorded more than 600,000 sextortion cases, with criminals frequently using AI-generated synthetic media. INTERPOL warned that AI-powered crime is becoming more sophisticated and scalable, allowing criminals to target several countries simultaneously.
Recent cases include a deepfake impersonation involving South African Reserve Bank Governor Lesetja Kganyago, where criminals used cloned voice and video to direct citizens towards fake investment platforms. In Tanzania and Kenya, criminals have also created synthetic identities using stolen personal data and deepfake biometric faces that reportedly bypassed bank verification systems.
The report highlights gaps in existing cybercrime frameworks, including the African Union’s Malabo Convention and the UN Convention against Cybercrime. Critics say these frameworks do not specifically address newer AI-driven threats.
Law enforcement capacity remains another concern. About 92% of agencies reportedly lack technical AI expertise, while only 8% of intelligence analysts have advanced AI skills, leaving enforcement efforts fragmented and reactive.
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