Artificial intelligence (AI) is increasingly being used by cybercriminals across Africa, with AI linked to 55% of reported cybercrimes, according to INTERPOL’s African Cyberthreat Assessment Report 2026.
The report, released on August 3, highlights how criminals are using AI to make cyberattacks faster, more sophisticated and easier to scale. AI is being used to support activities such as online fraud, phishing, impersonation and other forms of cyber-enabled crime.
INTERPOL warned that the growing availability of AI tools is lowering the barrier for criminals, allowing even less-skilled attackers to conduct more convincing and sophisticated attacks.
The development presents a growing challenge for African governments, businesses and individuals, who are being urged to strengthen cybersecurity measures and improve awareness of emerging AI-driven threats.
As AI technology continues to advance, cybersecurity experts warn that African countries will need stronger cooperation, better detection capabilities and greater investment in cybersecurity to stay ahead of increasingly sophisticated cybercriminals.
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