Cape Town, August 5: Southern Africa has emerged as a primary target for cybercriminals. The region has seen a surge in ransomware, phishing, and business email fraud cases. This alarming trend was highlighted in a recent report by Interpol. Local media referenced this report on cybercrime in Africa, released on Wednesday.
The 40-page “African Cyber Threat Assessment Report 2026,” published by Interpol on Monday, identifies Southern Africa as “the most digitally advanced and targeted area on the continent.” The report is based on data collected from 36 African nations, revealing that Southern Africa has been the most affected by several major categories of cyberattacks.
According to the report, 92% of all ransomware cases recorded in Africa by TrendAI were found in Southern Africa. Additionally, the region experienced 213,523 Distributed Denial-of-Service (DDoS) attacks, with one attack reaching a staggering speed of 312 gigabits per second.
As reported by the Xinhua news agency, around 40% of all phishing incidents in Africa were attributed to Southern Africa, according to cybersecurity firm SOC Radar. Furthermore, based on TrendAI’s 2025 data, 70% of business email compromise cases were also linked to this region.
The report warns that cybercrime in Africa is no longer limited to petty offenses. It has evolved into an “organized and cross-border network,” significantly empowered by the increasing use of artificial intelligence (AI) and automated technologies.
The economic impact of cybercrime in Africa has more than doubled since 2024, soaring from $192 million to $484 million.
In 2025, online scams and fraud were the most reported cybercrimes in Africa. Criminals are targeting individuals through mobile money platforms, social media, and AI technologies.
The report indicates that 72% of the African countries surveyed reported the presence of organized scam centers related to online fraud, with the highest concentration found in Southern and Western Africa.
Neil Jetten, director of Interpol’s cybercrime unit, stated, “Cybercrime has become one of the most serious criminal threats in this region.” He emphasized that AI is automating every stage of cyberattacks, from information gathering to phishing, money recovery, and evading security measures.
However, he noted that when countries collaborate, they can identify, disrupt, and potentially eradicate the networks of cybercriminals.
The report concludes that despite having some of the continent’s strongest cybersecurity measures, Southern African nations remain significantly vulnerable to rapid and large-scale cyberattacks driven by AI.
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