East African regional leaders are accelerating efforts to harmonize digital regulations across borders as cybercrime, online fraud and digital security threats continue to rise across the continent.
Officials from the East African Community and Intergovernmental Authority on Development said stronger regional coordination on cybersecurity, data protection and digital trade regulations is becoming critical as governments expand digital services and online commerce.
The issue dominated discussions during a joint EAC-IGAD media training workshop on the Eastern Africa Regional Digital Integration Project (EARDIP) in Nairobi.
“Cyber crimes are increasing and becoming more sophisticated. Cyber crimes account for 30% of all crimes in Africa,” said EAC EARDIP Project Manager Gordon Kalema.
Kalema said Africa recorded about 137 million cyber incidents in 2025, with African internet users facing attack rates significantly above the global average.
“In East Africa, Kenya had 4.5 billion incidents with financial losses of about $19.6 million,” he said.
Recent findings from INTERPOL’s 2025 Africa Cyberthreat Assessment Report show cybercrime now accounts for more than 30% of reported crimes in Eastern and Western Africa, with phishing scams, ransomware, business email compromise and online fraud among the fastest-growing threats.
Regional officials warned that rapid digital expansion without coordinated cybersecurity protections could expose governments, businesses and citizens to increasing risks.
EAC Deputy Secretary General for Customs, Trade and Monetary Affairs Annette Ssemuwemba said East Africa’s growing digital economy requires interoperable and secure systems across borders.
“When digital systems work across borders, businesses can reach new markets,” Ssemuwemba said. “When citizens can access services online, productivity increases and costs reduce.”
She said the Eastern Africa Regional Digital Integration Project aims to strengthen cross-border broadband infrastructure, cybersecurity readiness, digital trade systems and harmonized regulatory frameworks across the region.
“We want to be able to connect closely beyond our own national boundaries,” she said.
The EARDIP initiative, supported by the World Bank, seeks to improve regional digital connectivity while promoting common frameworks for cybersecurity, online payments, data governance and digital trade. According to official EAC documentation, the project is designed to help establish a more integrated regional digital market across Eastern Africa.
IGAD Director for Economic Cooperation and Regional Integration Dr. Mohyeldeen Eltohami Taha said regional cooperation between EAC and IGAD was essential because several member states belong to both blocs.
“This initiative is about bringing institutions together,” Taha said.
He also emphasized the growing importance of cybersecurity and public awareness as digital transformation accelerates.
“Digital transformation is no longer a distant aspiration. It is the present,” he said.
Officials said harmonized regulations would help improve cross-border digital payments, online commerce and government e-services while reducing vulnerabilities created by fragmented national systems.
Ssemuwemba also warned that misinformation and digital disinformation were becoming growing concerns as online platforms expand across the region.
“As digital platforms continue to grow, the risk of misinformation and disinformation also increases,” she said. “Accurate reporting, fact-checking and ethical storytelling are essential.”
According to the INTERPOL report, many African countries still face significant gaps in cybercrime reporting systems, cybersecurity capacity and digital law enforcement coordination.
Regional officials said journalists and media organizations would play a critical role in raising public awareness about cyber threats, online safety and responsible digital behavior.
Regional leaders increasingly view harmonized digital governance as central to broader African integration efforts under the African Union digital transformation agenda and the African Continental Free Trade Area framework.
