Africa’s digital boom intensifies cybersecurity race

Africa’s expanding digital economy is creating opportunities for consumers, businesses and governments, but its continued development depends on stronger cybersecurity

A new Mastercard-commissioned whitepaper, Africa’s Digital Defense Race, examines the growing threat landscape and the measures needed to protect the continent’s digital progress.

Between 2016 and 2025, the number of mobile money users increased 5.9-fold, digital banking users grew 4.7-fold and the e-commerce market expanded 5.3-fold, according to the whitepaper. These developments come as Africa’s digital payments economy is projected to reach US$1.5 trillion by 2030.

Cyber threats have also intensified alongside digital adoption. The report highlights the need for stronger governance, infrastructure, cybersecurity skills and cross-sector cooperation to protect the continent’s growing digital ecosystem.

Shabir Ahmed, senior vice-president, customer solutions center lead, Africa, said, “Africa’s digital growth is creating real opportunity for people and businesses across the continent, and protecting it has become a leadership priority. As threats become more sophisticated and coordinated, our response has to be just as coordinated. That is why we launched the Africa Cybersecurity Center of Excellence, bringing the public and private sectors together to share intelligence, knowledge and best practices. Building that resilience together is how Africa continues to grow with confidence.”

Data from Mastercard Cyber Insights recorded 69,236 observed cyber events targeting African organisations in 2025, equivalent to approximately one event every eight minutes. Between 2016 and 2025, cyberattacks across Africa rose by more than 421%, outpacing the global increase of 307%, the whitepaper reports.

The findings also illustrate how cybersecurity challenges differ across national markets. Nigeria, with its extensive fintech ecosystem, accounted for a significant proportion of observed cyberattacks on the continent in 2025. In South Africa, the concentration of financial services made the sector a notable target, accounting for 12.6% of Africa’s observed attacks. Morocco’s position as a technology hub connecting North Africa with Europe is accompanied by a more institutionalised cyber governance framework. In Kenya, the report emphasises the importance of protecting the systems underpinning financial inclusion and digital development.

Protecting the data that powers growth

Technology, the public sector and financial services collectively represented 44% of observed cyber activity, according to the whitepaper. Their exposure reflects the value of the data and services they manage. Personal information, financial information and customer-facing services accounted for 27% of targeted assets, underlining the importance of protecting the information and services on which individuals and businesses depend.

Cybersecurity talent presents an investment opportunity

The whitepaper identifies workforce development as a major area for investment. Africa has approximately 200,000 cybersecurity positions to fill, equivalent to a shortfall of 23% of its existing cybersecurity workforce.

The Africa Cybersecurity Center of Excellence aims to help address these challenges by connecting security professionals and teams to exchange expertise and best practices. It also supports organisational preparedness through scenario-based exercises designed to strengthen responses to potential threats.

Collective action strengthens cyber resilience

Coordinated enforcement efforts have demonstrated the impact of cross-border cooperation. Between June and August 2025, Interpol’s Operation Serengeti 2.0 resulted in 1,209 arrests across 18 African countries and the recovery of US$97.4mn.

Mastercard works with governments, financial institutions and businesses of different sizes to strengthen cybersecurity through collaboration. Its Center of Excellence provides a platform for public- and private-sector stakeholders to exchange threat intelligence, monitor risks and improve collective defences. As Africa’s digital economy continues to expand, such cooperation will be important in building a coordinated response to increasingly sophisticated cyber threats.