AFRICA’S CYBERSECURITY STANDING IN A HIGH-RISK DIGITAL AGE

Africa’s rapid digital expansion has brought economic opportunity, but it has also exposed the continent to escalating cyber threats. By late 2025, Africa had become a prime target for cybercriminal activity, reflecting both its growing connectivity and persistent gaps in cyber readiness. Recent reports show Ethiopia emerging as the most targeted country globally for malware in 2024, while South Sudan recorded more than 93 million attempted cyber-attacks, the highest figure on the continent. These trends highlight a widening disconnect between digital adoption and the security frameworks needed to protect it.

This growing exposure is taking place against the backdrop of limited infrastructure, skills shortages, and uneven regulatory enforcement. As governments, businesses, and citizens move services online, vulnerabilities ranging from ransomware attacks to state-linked cyber-espionage have become more pronounced. The Global Cybersecurity Index (GCI), produced by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), provides a useful snapshot of how African countries compare globally. Its 2024 edition moved away from strict rankings to a tier-based system, offering a more nuanced view of progress and persistent weaknesses.

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The GCI measures national cybersecurity capacity across five pillars: legal measures, technical capabilities, organizational structures, capacity development, and international cooperation. Countries are grouped into five tiers, from Tier 1 “role-modelling” states with scores between 95 and 100, to Tier 5 “building” nations with minimal foundational capacity. Africa’s overall performance reflects steady improvement, including the adoption of national cybersecurity strategies by several countries, but most states remain in Tiers 3 to 5, where critical systems such as incident response teams and public awareness programs are still evolving.

Despite these challenges, a small group of African countries now stands out as global benchmarks. Five nations Mauritius, Tanzania, Ghana, Rwanda, and Kenya achieved Tier 1 status in the 2024 GCI, marking a significant milestone for the continent. Mauritius leads the group with a perfect score, supported by strong legislation, mature technical institutions, and consistent participation in international cybersecurity initiatives. Its performance places it alongside the world’s most advanced cyber-secure nations.

Tanzania and Ghana follow closely. Ghana, with a score above 86 percent, has strengthened its cybercrime units, expanded regulatory oversight, and deepened cooperation with global partners. Rwanda’s rise reflects an aggressive national digital strategy focused on workforce training, secure infrastructure, and coordinated governance. Kenya completes the Tier 1 group, having invested heavily in organizational capacity through institutions such as its National Cybersecurity Centre, positioning it as a regional leader in countering advanced persistent threats.

These success stories, however, remain exceptions. Many of Africa’s largest economies, including Nigeria and South Africa, sit in Tier 2 or Tier 3. While progress is evident, implementation gaps, inconsistent enforcement, and limited coordination continue to constrain their advancement. Elsewhere, countries such as Burundi and Eritrea fall into Tier 5, lacking even basic legal and technical frameworks. In these environments, critical sectors like finance, healthcare, and public services are particularly exposed.

Africa’s broader cyber risk profile remains troubling. The continent ranks among the world’s most affected regions for crypto-ransomware attacks and hosts a significant number of compromised systems. INTERPOL’s Africa Cyberthreat Assessment Report 2025 notes increased activity by sophisticated threat groups and a rise in AI-enabled attacks targeting underprepared networks. Economic losses from cyber incidents now run into billions of dollars annually.

Structural challenges continue to complicate the response. Many countries face shortages of skilled cybersecurity professionals and limited funding, especially among Least Developed Countries. Industry reports consistently identify ransomware as the leading organizational risk, while geopolitical tensions have turned parts of Africa into testing grounds for cyber-espionage campaigns.

Still, the outlook is not uniformly bleak. Corporate awareness and training are improving, supported by regional surveys that point to a more informed workforce. Continental initiatives led by the African Union, alongside partnerships with global technology firms, are helping countries such as Benin and Zambia move into higher GCI tiers. These developments signal a growing recognition of cybersecurity as essential to economic stability and national security.

Africa’s future position in global cybersecurity rankings will depend on sustained investment, regional cooperation, and international support. As digital economies deepen, narrowing the gap between leading and lagging nations will be critical not only to reduce vulnerability, but to ensure that Africa’s digital growth is secure, inclusive, and resilient.