Keypoints:
- Mastercard launches Africa Cybersecurity Centre of Excellence
- South Africa and Nigeria will lead the first phase of the rollout
- African cybersecurity expert says collaboration is vital to secure digital growth
AFRICA’S efforts to strengthen cybersecurity received a boost on Tuesday after Mastercard launched a new Cybersecurity Centre of Excellence aimed at helping governments, banks and businesses respond to increasingly sophisticated digital threats across the continent.
The initiative will begin with a phased rollout in South Africa and Nigeria during 2026 before expanding into additional African markets. According to Mastercard, the centre will serve as a collaborative platform where public and private sector organisations can share threat intelligence, strengthen cyber preparedness and coordinate responses to emerging security risks.
The announcement comes as African governments accelerate investment in digital public services, fintech and cross-border digital trade, making cybersecurity an increasingly important pillar of economic growth. As digital payments expand across the continent, governments and businesses are under growing pressure to strengthen cyber resilience and protect critical digital infrastructure from increasingly sophisticated attacks. This trend builds on Mastercard’s broader investment in Africa’s financial ecosystem, following its expansion of Africa payment network, which aims to accelerate secure digital transactions across the continent.
Rising cyber threats reshape Africa’s digital agenda
From mobile money and digital banking to e-commerce and public services, millions of Africans now rely on digital platforms. However, that rapid expansion has also created new opportunities for cybercriminals targeting financial institutions, businesses and government agencies.
The growing importance of cyber resilience reflects wider concerns that Africa’s digital transformation must be matched by stronger security and governance frameworks. As Africa Briefing recently reported in Africa’s cybersecurity risk is growing, governments and businesses are increasingly recognising that cyber resilience is essential to protecting economic growth and public trust.
The announcement also reflects a broader shift in how cybersecurity is viewed across Africa. Rather than being treated solely as an information technology issue, governments and financial institutions increasingly regard cyber resilience as an economic priority that underpins investment, financial stability and consumer confidence in digital services.
International cybersecurity experts have consistently warned that ransomware attacks, phishing campaigns and data breaches are becoming more sophisticated globally, while governments across Africa continue investing in digital resilience to support economic development and investor confidence.
Against that backdrop, Mastercard said its new Centre of Excellence is intended to improve collaboration rather than operate as a conventional security provider, enabling participating organisations to exchange intelligence, assess risks and conduct scenario-based exercises designed to improve readiness.
The rapid expansion of digital finance has also increased the urgency of strengthening cyber defences. Africa Briefing recently examined how Africa is building the future of fintech, with innovation driving financial inclusion while creating new cybersecurity challenges for governments, banks and technology providers.
Another challenge facing many African organisations is the shortage of skilled cybersecurity professionals. Industry leaders have repeatedly identified workforce development and stronger collaboration between governments and the private sector as essential to improving cyber readiness across the continent. Mastercard said the Centre of Excellence is intended to support that collaboration through knowledge sharing and practical resilience exercises.
South Africa and Nigeria lead the rollout
Mastercard selected South Africa and Nigeria for the first phase because both countries are among Africa’s largest digital economies while also facing significant cybersecurity challenges.
South Africa has experienced repeated cyberattacks against both public institutions and private companies in recent years, highlighting the growing need for coordinated cyber defence.
Nigeria, meanwhile, has witnessed rapid growth in digital banking, fintech and online payments, making cybersecurity increasingly important as financial services continue to expand.
According to Mastercard, discussions with government leaders in both countries, including engagements linked to South Africa’s G20 presidency, helped shape the initial phase of the programme.
Public-private cooperation at the core
According to Mastercard, the Centre of Excellence will connect financial institutions, government agencies, technology companies and cybersecurity professionals through a shared platform focused on resilience and intelligence sharing.
Participating organisations will have access to Africa-focused cyber threat intelligence, cyber risk assessments and practical simulation exercises intended to strengthen incident response capabilities.
The company believes stronger cooperation across sectors is essential because cyber threats increasingly transcend national borders and target interconnected digital systems.
Mastercard chief executive Michael Miebach said trust remains fundamental to digital transformation.
‘No single organisation can tackle evolving cyber threats alone,’ he said during the launch, emphasising the need for greater collaboration across governments and industry.
African expert welcomes initiative
The announcement has also been welcomed by African cybersecurity experts, who say stronger regional cooperation will be critical as digital transformation accelerates across the continent.
Professor Ojo Emmanuel Ademola, Africa’s first Professor of Cybersecurity and Information Technology Management, said the initiative reflects growing recognition that cybersecurity is central to Africa’s economic future.
‘Mastercard’s initiative is a welcome affirmation that cybersecurity is now the backbone of Africa’s digital economy. As the continent advances in digital payments, public services and cross-border trade, only a resilient cyber ecosystem can sustain trust, stability and inclusive growth. Strengthening collaboration, intelligence sharing and cyber talent development is no longer optional — it is the strategic imperative for Africa’s digital future.’
He said initiatives that encourage cooperation between governments, financial institutions and technology companies would help strengthen resilience against increasingly sophisticated cyber threats while supporting sustainable digital development across Africa.
Cybersecurity becomes economic priority
Analysts increasingly view cybersecurity as a strategic economic issue rather than simply an information technology challenge. That assessment aligns with Africa Briefing’s analysis of Africa’s digital economy reaching an estimated $1.5tn by 2030, highlighting how trusted digital infrastructure will be critical to sustaining investment, innovation and cross-border commerce.
As African countries pursue digital transformation agendas and implement the digital trade ambitions of the African Continental Free Trade Area, secure digital infrastructure is expected to play a growing role in facilitating investment, cross-border commerce and financial inclusion.
A stronger cybersecurity ecosystem could also help improve confidence among investors, fintech companies and consumers as digital transactions continue to grow across the continent.
Mastercard said the Centre of Excellence will continue expanding its capabilities as cybersecurity risks evolve and as more organisations participate in the programme.
The company added that it has invested more than $12.6bn globally in cybersecurity innovation since 2018 while supporting startups developing technologies to improve cyber resilience.
While the long-term impact will depend on sustained collaboration between governments, regulators and the private sector, the initiative reflects growing recognition that cybersecurity has become a strategic enabler of Africa’s digital economy. As digital payments, online commerce and cross-border trade continue to expand, stronger cyber resilience is likely to play an increasingly important role in protecting economic growth and maintaining public confidence in digital services.
