The International Criminal Police Organization (INTERPOL) has disclosed that more than half of all cybercrime incidents reported across Africa are now facilitated by Artificial Intelligence (AI). This marks a significant transformation in the continent’s cyber threat landscape, as digital attacks become increasingly automated and borderless.

Key Findings from the INTERPOL African Cyberthreat Assessment Report 2026

  • AI-enabled cybercrimes constitute 55% of reported cases across Africa.
  • Financial losses due to cybercrime have surged, doubling since 2024 to an estimated $484 million.
  • East Africa is identified as a hotspot for mobile money fraud and ransomware targeting infrastructure.
  • Central and West Africa experience high rates of business email compromise and romance scams affecting both companies and individuals.
  • Southern Africa’s extensive connectivity attracts global cyber threat actors aiming for maximum disruption.
  • 72% of surveyed African countries report organized scam centers, predominantly in Southern and West Africa.
  • AI-generated synthetic identities are increasingly used to bypass biometric security, enabling fraudsters to open bank accounts, secure mobile loans, and register SIM cards under false identities.

Neal Jetton, Director of INTERPOL’s Cybercrime unit, emphasized that AI is automating all phases of cyberattacks, including reconnaissance, phishing, extortion, and evasion. He highlighted that international collaboration has been critical in identifying and dismantling cybercriminal infrastructures.

Impact on Kenya

The report’s insights resonate with Kenya’s cybersecurity environment. The Communications Authority of Kenya (CA) recorded 3.37 billion cyber threat events from January to March 2026, a 26% decline from the previous quarter but with heightened attack sophistication. Notably, attacks targeting critical information infrastructure accounted for the majority of incidents.

Additionally, Kenya was among the top countries globally for phishing detections in September 2025, according to SOCRadar data cited in the report.

The INTERPOL findings underscore the urgent need for enhanced regional cooperation and advanced security measures to combat the evolving, AI-powered cybercrime ecosystem threatening Africa’s digital economy.