Scams, hacks and cybercrime in general are making headlines around the world – and Africa is no exception. But as the continent becomes more connected is cybersecurity keeping up? Three recent announcements may encourage modest optimism.
Smart Africa, an alliance tasked with driving Africa’s digital agenda, and e-Crime Bureau, a global cybersecurity consulting firm, have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to support cybersecurity initiatives and strengthen Africa’s digital security ecosystem over the next three years.
The TechAfrica News website reports that the partnership will focus on strengthening the continent’s cybersecurity workforce and skills development, while promoting collaboration among stakeholders to build a more resilient cyber ecosystem.
The organisations will also work to improve cybersecurity governance, risk management, monitoring and evaluation, as well as support legal and policy harmonisation and coordinated cybersecurity operations across Africa.
A third area of collaboration will involve developing, deploying and securing critical cybersecurity infrastructure and emerging technologies to protect the continent’s digital ecosystem.
Meanwhile, US Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs (INL) Michael Gonzales recently travelled to Nigerian capital Abuja to advance shared US-Nigeria security priorities. Meetings with senior government officials involved discussing ways to expand joint efforts against financially motivated sextortion, romance scams, and other transnational cybercrime.
Which brings us to the sixth Cyber Africa Forum, scheduled for 16-17 November in Cotonou, Benin, which, its organisers say, will examine how to strengthen trust in digital services across Africa. There will be a lot to talk about. Cybercrime losses on the continent have risen – from an estimated US$192 million in 2024 to US$484 million in 2025.
And, the Ecofin news agency points out, as digital services become more common across Africa, concerns about cybersecurity, data protection, and the reliability of online transactions remain major obstacles to their widespread adoption. Importantly too, artificial intelligence has made it easier for cybercriminals to automate attacks and operate on a larger scale.
In addition, the International Criminal Police Organisation (INTERPOL)’s 2025 report on African cyberthreats notes that 95% of surveyed countries reported a need for additional training, resources, or specialised tools.
Cross-border cooperation is also likely to be key to success in combating cybercrime, although this does appear to be happening. An example is the recently reported multi-agency crackdown – also involving private sector companies – against fraud perpetrated from across Africa.
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