AI-Enabled Cybercrime Surges Amid Africa's Digital Growth

• •Cyberattacks in Africa increased by over 421% from 2016 to 2025.
• •AI-driven attacks are outpacing security spending, with 78% of SMEs experiencing incidents.
• •The average breach detection time in Africa is 18 days, significantly higher than the global average.

As Africa's digital economy expands, cyber threats have surged, with attacks increasing by over 421% from 2016 to 2025. Experts from Kaspersky, Mimecast, Check Point Software Technologies, and Galix report that AI-driven cybercrime is outpacing security spending, which reached $15.3 billion in 2025. Despite increased budgets, 78% of South African SMEs faced cyber incidents last year. The average detection and containment time for breaches in Africa is 18 days, compared to 12 days globally, allowing attackers significant time to exploit vulnerabilities. Key sectors targeted include financial services and critical infrastructure, with email phishing accounting for 77% of attacks. The rise of mobile money and digital banking has created new attack surfaces, leading to significant financial losses across the continent. The skills gap in cybersecurity remains a critical issue, with an estimated 200,000 unfilled positions in Africa.