Africa’s rapidly expanding digital economy is creating new opportunities for businesses, financial institutions and consumers. However, the growing threat of cybercrime is raising questions about whether the continent’s digital infrastructure can remain secure enough to support its next phase of economic growth.
A new Mastercard-commissioned whitepaper, Africa’s Digital Defense Race, identifies cyber resilience as a critical requirement for sustaining digital transformation across the continent. Published on October 12, 2026, the report highlights the need for stronger cybersecurity governance, skilled professionals, improved infrastructure and collaboration between public and private sector organisations.
The report’s findings illustrate the scale of the challenge. Between 2016 and 2025, mobile money users in Africa increased 5.9 times, digital banking users grew 4.7 times, and the e-commerce market expanded 5.3 times. Meanwhile, the continent’s digital payments economy is projected to reach $1.5 trillion by 2030.
Yet cyber threats have grown alongside this expansion. Mastercard Cyber Insights recorded 69,236 observed cyber events targeting African organisations in 2025, equivalent to approximately one event every eight minutes. The report also found that cyberattacks across Africa increased by more than 421 per cent between 2016 and 2025, compared with 307 per cent globally.
The report identifies technology, public sector organisations and financial services as particularly important areas for cybersecurity investment. Together, these sectors accounted for 44 per cent of observed cyber threat activity in Africa during 2025.
These industries manage sensitive information and essential services, making them attractive targets for cybercriminals. Attacks can expose personal information, disrupt financial transactions, damage businesses and undermine public confidence in digital services.
For Nigeria, where fintech companies and digital payment platforms play an increasingly important role in financial inclusion, cyber resilience is particularly significant. Businesses must protect customer information and payment systems while maintaining reliable services as transaction volumes increase.
The report also highlights the need for stronger cybersecurity capabilities in Kenya, South Africa and Morocco, recognising that different markets face distinct threats and regulatory challenges.
A major obstacle is the shortage of qualified cybersecurity professionals. Mastercard estimates that Africa had approximately 200,000 unfilled cybersecurity positions at the end of 2025, representing a gap equivalent to 23 per cent of the continent’s existing cybersecurity workforce.
Expanding professional training, strengthening technical education and creating employment pathways could help businesses develop the expertise needed to identify threats, respond to incidents and protect digital infrastructure.
Mastercard is promoting collective action through its Africa Cybersecurity Center of Excellence, which brings together public and private sector organisations to share threat intelligence, improve preparedness and strengthen coordinated responses.
The initiative reflects the understanding that cyber threats frequently cross national borders and cannot be addressed effectively by individual organisations acting alone.
Africa’s digital future will depend not only on expanding internet access, financial technology and online commerce, but also on protecting the systems that support them. Strengthening cyber resilience can help businesses innovate with greater confidence, protect consumers and build the trust necessary for sustainable digital growth.
Leave a Reply