Mastercard Launches Africa Cybersecurity Centre to Strengthen Threat Intelligence
Mastercard has launched a new cybersecurity centre aimed at improving threat intelligence sharing across Africa, as financial institutions and public sector organisations face a rising volume of ransomware and phishing attacks.
The Africa Cybersecurity Center of Excellence will be rolled out in phases during 2026, beginning operations in South Africa and Nigeria. The initiative is designed to support collaboration between organisations that play a key role in the continent’s digital economy, helping them better prepare for, detect, and respond to cyber threats.
As part of the programme, up to 50 organisations will receive cyber risk analyses and access to a threat intelligence feed from Recorded Future, a security firm Mastercard acquired in 2024. The centre will provide participants with regional security assessments and a shared view of emerging risks across the market.
Mastercard said the initiative is intended to strengthen collective defence by connecting public and private sector stakeholders and encouraging the exchange of best practices. According to the company, the centre will operate across three main pillars: threat intelligence, collaboration, and readiness.
In its threat intelligence function, the centre will focus on sharing information that can help organisations identify and understand new and evolving risks. On the collaboration side, it will bring together chief information security officers, business leaders, and security teams to improve alignment on cyber resilience and industry standards. The readiness pillar will include ongoing risk monitoring, resilience assessments, and scenario-based exercises.
The launch comes as Africa’s digital economy continues to expand. Mastercard noted that the market is projected to reach US$1.5 trillion by 2030. However, cybercrime remains significantly underreported, which the company attributed to gaps in maturity and concerns over reputational damage.
South Africa is currently the continent’s most targeted market, accounting for around 29% of ransomware attacks and 40% of phishing incidents, according to the source. Nigeria also ranks among the most affected markets for dark web threat activity.
Mastercard CEO Michael Miebach said Africa is “dynamic, fast-growing, and ready to scale its digital future.” He added that greater coordination between public and private sector efforts, along with stronger sharing of best practices, can help build a more secure and inclusive digital economy.
Industry Analysis
The launch of Mastercard’s Africa Cybersecurity Center of Excellence reflects the growing importance of cyber resilience as digital financial services expand across the continent. With ransomware and phishing attacks increasing, the initiative highlights a shift toward more structured information sharing and cross-sector cooperation.
For financial institutions and governments, access to regional threat intelligence and risk assessments could improve response times and strengthen security planning. More broadly, the programme signals that cybersecurity is becoming a foundational requirement for supporting Africa’s digital growth, especially as markets such as South Africa and Nigeria remain key targets for attackers.
