State capture, cyber threats push Africa into a new era of criminal complexity

In several countries, corrupt officials and elites are using digital systems to conceal transactions, launder money, and coordinate networks.

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Africa is facing a complex and rapidly evolving security challenge, where entrenched state-linked criminal networks intersect with an expanding cyber-enabled criminal ecosystem and transnational syndicate operations, warn experts.

According to the newly released Africa Organised Crime Index 2025, persistent economic vulnerabilities and high youth unemployment continue to fuel this convergence, creating fertile ground for both traditional and digital criminal activity.