INTERPOL Report Highlights AI's Role in Over Half of Cybercrimes in Africa, Impacting Global Security
A recent report by INTERPOL reveals that artificial intelligence (AI) is involved in 55% of reported cybercrimes across Africa. The African Cyberthreat Assessment Report 2026 highlights the rapid digital transformation in Africa, with over 1.1 billion mobile subscribers recorded in 2025. This growth has made the continent a target for cybercriminals who use AI to enhance the speed, scale, and complexity of their attacks. The report notes significant financial losses due to cybercrime, which have more than doubled from USD 192 million in 2024 to USD 484 million. AI-facilitated scams, credential harvesting, and automated social engineering campaigns are the primary drivers of these losses. The report also identifies Southern Africa as a hotspot for cyber threats due to its high connectivity, while East Africa faces mobile money fraud and ransomware attacks. The absence of real-time data sharing between banks, telecoms, and law enforcement is a major vulnerability, allowing criminals to exploit these gaps. 
