Botswana has been identified as one of the few countries in Africa making significant strides in cybersecurity, despite the continent facing a sharp rise in cybercrime activities with such crimes reportedly leading to financial losses exceeding $3 billion between 2019 and 2025.
According to the recent Interpol Africa Cyberthreat Assessment Report 2025, Botswana is part of a select group of nations including South Africa and Namibia that have made substantial investments in cybersecurity awareness campaigns, the deployment of AI-driven security technologies, and the strengthening of legal frameworks that address emerging digital threats. These efforts have positioned the country among the continent’s most digitally resilient states.
However, Botswana was also among several nations listed as having experienced a noticeable increase in scam-related notifications in 2024. In a comparison of suspected scam alerts received by Kaspersky from African countries between 2023 and 2024, Botswana recorded a 133% increase. This rise is attributed to the proliferation of phishing attempts and social engineering scams that target users through emails, text messages, and social media platforms.
The report details that online scams especially phishing continue to dominate Africa’s cyberthreat landscape. Phishing alone accounted for 34% of all cyber incidents detected across the continent.
In Botswana, phishing scams were frequently localized, using Setswana or English to mimic communication from trusted institutions such as banks, mobile providers, or government agencies. Cybercriminals exploited emotional and financial vulnerabilities, often impersonating senior officials or service providers to trick individuals into revealing sensitive personal or financial information.
Another data point in the report reveals the changing nature of phishing techniques. There has been a shift from traditional mass-email phishing to highly targeted attacks involving AI-generated deepfake content, voice cloning, and localized fraud attempts. Cybercriminals now use fake job offers, romantic messages, or urgent payment requests, often delivered via WhatsApp or SMS. These smishing and vishing campaigns further complicate detection and response efforts, especially in regions with growing mobile phone use and digital banking.
While Botswana’s legal infrastructure is stronger than in many African counterparts, challenges remain. The INTERPOL survey found that 95% of African countries including Botswana—reported constraints in accessing specialized forensic tools and resources. Despite these limitations, Botswana’s involvement in regional and continental cybersecurity efforts is notable.
The country participates in the Africa Joint Operation against Cybercrime (AFJOC), coordinated by INTERPOL and AFRIPOL, and has reportedly cooperated in cross-border actions against cyber syndicates. These collaborative efforts are essential as the report highlights that 86% of member states cite weaknesses in cross-border coordination and intelligence sharing as barriers to effective cybercrime response.
The Southern Africa section of the report also underscores the dual reality that countries like Botswana face. On one hand, increased digitization has created an attractive environment for investment and innovation, but on the other, it has also made the country a target for sophisticated cybercriminal networks.
AI-powered fraud, voice spoofing, and cryptocurrency scams have all been observed within the region. Botswana’s financial sector, although relatively well protected, is not immune to the broader trends affecting Southern Africa. The report notes that cryptojacking, where hackers exploit computing systems to mine cryptocurrency without the user’s knowledge, became more prevalent in the region during 2024. Smishing attacks, often disguised as alerts from banks or mobile wallet providers, were also identified as a major concern.
Despite these growing threats, Botswana’s approach has been proactive. According to Interpol data, 88% of African countries reported implementing public awareness campaigns in 2024, and Botswana is believed to be among them. Additionally, 84% conducted training for cybercrime investigators, and Botswana’s own cybercrime unit has been involved in regional capacity-building initiatives. The country has also made headway in developing legislative tools to combat cyber offenses.
