Africa's digital growth accelerates

Africa is undergoing rapid digital transformation, which is increasingly shaping its socio-economic development. This progress, however, brings new challenges, particularly in the area of cybersecurity, which is essential for maintaining public trust in digital services.

Cyber Africa Forum highlights digital trust

A press conference held in Cotonou on Monday, November 2, previewed the sixth edition of the Cyber Africa Forum (CAF), set for November 16 and 17. The event’s theme, "Building tomorrow's digital trust," reflects growing concerns about cybersecurity across the continent. Franck Kié, the general commissioner of the CAF, noted that over 70 partners are expected to attend, with more than 2000 registrations already recorded.

AI enhances cyber threats

Artificial intelligence is being used by cybercriminals to automate attacks and improve phishing techniques, making it harder to detect fraudulent activities. Ouanilo Medegan Fagla, general director of Benin’s National Digital Investigations Center (CNIN), explained that AI enables attackers to explore systems and exploit vulnerabilities more efficiently. In Benin, reported cybercrimes increased by over 60 percent in 2025 compared to 2024.

Cybercrime surges across Africa

According to a June 2025 report by INTERPOL, cybercrime in Africa has seen a dramatic rise. Suspected fraud notifications increased by 3000 percent in some countries, and financial losses from cybercrime jumped from 192 million dollars in 2024 to 484 million in 2025. The number of identified victims also rose sharply, from 35,000 to 87,000 during the same period.

Data security and infrastructure priorities

Marc-André Loko, general director of the Agency for Information Systems and Digital (ASIN), emphasized the need to improve data security through better infrastructure, data quality, and skill development. He stressed the importance of hosting sensitive data locally, especially as governments increasingly rely on digital platforms to centralize information.

Digital security must protect rights

Richmond Tiémoko, representative of the UNFPA, argued that digital transformation should not compromise people’s rights and dignity, particularly for vulnerable groups. He called for security to be integrated into the design of digital tools, rather than added later, and emphasized the role of user awareness in maintaining trust.

Africa’s digital security challenges

Ouanilo Medegan Fagla pointed out that foreign AI providers limit the ability of local teams to test and secure systems. He stressed the need for locally developed computing models and infrastructure to address cybersecurity needs, especially in countries with limited resources for digital defense.

Training and resources remain scarce

INTERPOL’s 2025 report found that 95 percent of African countries surveyed lack sufficient training, resources, or access to specialized cybersecurity tools. Only 30 percent have an incident reporting system, 29 percent a digital evidence repository, and 19 percent a database on cyber threats, highlighting the continent’s urgent need for improved digital security infrastructure.