A new report titled “African Cyberthreat Assessment Report 2026” by INTERPOL reveals that artificial intelligence (AI) is responsible for over 55 percent of cybercrime across Africa. The report highlights a significant surge in financial losses, which have doubled to $484 million since 2024, fueled by AI-driven scams such as automated phishing, ransomware, and identity fraud.
Neal Jetton, INTERPOL’s Director of Cybercrime, emphasized the growing threat posed by AI in cybercriminal activities, noting that AI is automating every stage of cyberattacks. This includes reconnaissance, phishing, extortion, and evasion, underscoring the critical need for international collaboration to effectively combat cybercrime.
The study highlights key regional trends, with East Africa identified as a hub for mobile money fraud and ransomware. Meanwhile, Central and West Africa are notable for Business Email Compromise (BEC) and romance scams, while Southern Africa’s connectivity makes it a prime target for global cyber threats. AI-generated synthetic media have also been linked to over 600,000 sextortion cases across the continent.
Recent high-profile incidents, such as deepfake impersonations in South Africa, illustrate the sophistication and potential impact of AI-enabled cybercrime. This has raised alarms regarding the effectiveness of existing legal frameworks such as the African Union’s Malabo Convention, which critics argue is outdated and ill-equipped to address modern AI-driven threats.
The enforcement landscape is further challenged by a lack of technical expertise in AI across the region. Notably, only 8 percent of intelligence analysts possess advanced AI skills, leaving agencies largely reactive to these evolving threats. As Africa grapples with these challenges, the need for robust, updated legal instruments and cooperative enforcement strategies becomes increasingly urgent.
The threat landscape is rapidly evolving, and as INTERPOL continues to urge nations to collaborate, the focus remains on building the capacity to dismantle the technological infrastructures enabling these crimes. The report underscores a pressing call for enhanced international legal frameworks and technical capacities to effectively counter AI-driven cybercrime.