Africa becoming hotbed for cybercrime, INTERPOL says

Homepage > News > Business > Africa becoming hotbed for cybercrime, INTERPOL says Africa’s rapid digitalization is attracting major investments from global big tech firms, but its modernization efforts come with an even greater risk, with the International Criminal Police Organization (INTERPOL) warning that the region is emerging as a hotbed for online criminal activities. In its 40-page African Cyberthreat Assessment Report 2026, which is based on the critical information provided by law enforcement from 36 African states, INTERPOL stated that African countries are witnessing a defining shift, with cybercrimes “evolving from isolated incidents into an industrialized, borderless ecosystem.” This came as the African region doubles down on its digital ambition, with more than 1.1 billion mobile subscriptions and over $1.1 trillion in digital transactions registered in 2025. Efforts to get people on board the World Wide Web in recent years have also materialized, with authorities recording 570 million Africans now relying on the Internet for various services. As of 2026, Africa has an estimated population of 1.58 billion. Despite heavily investing in digitizing a variety of ...