AI-fueled cyber threats: Can Africa build resilience before it’s too late ? 🤖

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The 2025 Cyber Africa Forum, held in Cotonou from June 24–25, brought together cybersecurity experts, government officials, and digital leaders from across the continent. At the heart of the discussions was a pressing question:
How can Africa build resilience against increasingly AI-driven cyber threats?

From sophisticated phishing scams to fully automated attack kits, panelists warned that artificial intelligence is making cybercrime more accessible than ever—and Africa must act fast.

AI is a double-edged sword ⚔️

Artificial intelligence holds massive promise for innovation and digital transformation. But at the same time, it’s amplifying cyber risks at an unprecedented scale.

During a panel titled “AI and digital resilience: Promise or vulnerability?”, experts raised the alarm about how easy it’s become to launch a cyberattack—even without any technical know-how.

Jean-Claude Sigui, president of Côte d’Ivoire’s Club DSI, painted a troubling picture:
“Anyone can become a cybercriminal today,” he said.

Turnkey platforms now offer phishing services, vulnerability scanning tools, and more—all behind a paywall, no coding skills required. These platforms don’t carry out attacks themselves; they simply sell the tools, raking in profits while fueling digital chaos.

This trend isn’t new. A World Economic Forum report from January 2025 already highlighted how large language models have slashed the cost of automated phishing by 95%. Where technical barriers once protected average users from exploiting cyber tools, those guardrails are now gone.
Organized cyber gangs are taking full advantage, and the threat is evolving—becoming broader, faster, and harder to contain.

Africa’s cyber defense is still a work in progress 🏗️

In response, speakers at the forum called for a fundamental rethink of how the continent handles cyber threats.

Dr. Maximilien Kpodjedo, digital advisor to the President of Benin, stressed the need for data sovereignty and local AI development. Africa must train its own experts, invest in robust data infrastructure, and create AI tools that reflect regional realities.

Currently, less than 2% of the data used to train global AI models comes from Africa. That lack of representation hurts relevance and performance on the ground. For Kpodjedo, building an ethical, Africa-centric AI ecosystem is key to future resilience.

Sigui went further, urging African nations to overhaul their defensive strategies. In the past, cybersecurity relied on speed. With AI, it’s about strategic endurance.

“We need to anticipate attacks,” he said, “but also be able to rebuild quickly when they happen.”
This shift—from reaction to resilience—is emerging as the new cybersecurity standard.

A roadmap for Africa’s digital future 📍

The takeaway from the Cyber Africa Forum was clear: AI is not just a threat—it’s also a potential force for good.

To harness it, the continent must double down on tech talent, regulatory reform, regional collaboration, and public-private partnerships. Done right, AI could strengthen both digital sovereignty and collective security.

Africa is at a crossroads.
AI is making cybercrime cheaper and easier—but it can also be a powerful tool to defend the digital frontier. What matters now is whether leaders can shift from short-term reaction to long-term strategic planning.

👉 Do you think AI could help Africa catch up on cybersecurity? Drop your thoughts in the comments! 💬