Interpol's new report finds that artificial intelligence (AI) played a role in 55% of reported cybercrimes across Africa in 2025. The study covered 36 countries and warns that AI has increased criminals' ability to carry out scalable, automated and highly targeted attacks.
Most common incidents and biggest financial impacts
According to the report, the most frequently reported cybercrimes were phishing, identity theft and online blackmail. In terms of financial damage, business email compromise (BEC) scams caused the largest losses.
Interpol estimates that Africa's losses from cybercrime accounted for roughly one third of the $15.3 billion spent on cybersecurity, underscoring the economic burden posed by cyber threats.
Role of AI and rising risk
The report highlights that AI enables perpetrators to automate large volumes of attacks and to craft highly targeted campaigns, increasing both scale and sophistication. Examples include automated generation of convincing phishing emails, identity fraud, and scalable extortion schemes.
Response capacity and gaps
The study notes that many African governments are struggling to combat cybercrime due to insufficient staff and inadequate equipment. The main continental legal framework remains the African Union's Malabo Convention on Cyber Security and Personal Data Protection, adopted in 2014, but implementation has been uneven across countries.
Interpol says addressing the growing threat will require enhanced international cooperation, harmonized regulation and increased investment in technology and capabilities.
Conclusion
The report's central finding is that AI has introduced a new dimension to cybercrime in Africa, making attacks more frequent and more sophisticated while many states lack proportionate defensive capacity. Closing that gap will depend on both better-resourced national responses and stronger regional and international collaboration.
