INTERPOL’s African Cyberthreat Assessment Report 2026 says that 55% of reported cybercrime in Africa is now powered by artificial intelligence, making attacks faster, more scalable and harder to detect.
INTERPOL’s African Cyberthreat Assessment Report 2026 says that 55% of reported cybercrime in Africa is now powered by artificial intelligence, making attacks faster, more scalable and harder to detect.
The report, which is based on data from 36 African countries, warns that cybercrime has become a sophisticated, cross-border industry, a trend that has been accelerated by the continent’s growing digital economy.
East Africa was a hotbed for mobile money fraud and ransomware attacks on critical infrastructure, with online scams being the most reported cybercrime across the continent. Financial losses due to cybercrime since 2024 more than doubled from US$192 million to US$484 million. AI-powered scams, credential theft and automated social engineering were the main drivers of this rise.
INTERPOL also warned of the growing use of AI to generate convincing phishing emails, deepfake-enabled sextortion campaigns and synthetic identities that can evade biometric verification systems to open bank accounts, obtain mobile loans and register SIM cards fraudulently.
Despite the rising threat, the report notes that cybercrime legislation remains fragmented across Africa and many law enforcement agencies lack the AI capabilities needed to respond effectively.
INTERPOL said stronger cross-border collaboration, investment in AI skills for investigators, improved digital forensic capabilities and closer public-private partnerships will be critical to strengthening the continent’s cyber resilience.
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