The new Cybersecurity Center established by Mastercard aims to strengthen digital security and resilience across Africa’s growing digital economy. Mastercard CEO Michael Miebach announced the initiative during his official visits to South Africa and Nigeria. Consequently, this pan-African hub will help organizations anticipate, withstand, and recover from increasingly sophisticated digital threats.
This initiative follows discussions with the Nigerian government in Abuja and the South African government during the G20 meetings in Johannesburg. Notably, the digital economy in Africa is projected to reach 1.5 trillion dollars by 2030. Therefore, the establishment of this facility addresses critical security gaps across the continent.
Addressing Regional Security Gaps
Currently, cybercrime is rising sharply across Africa, resulting in significant economic losses each year. Meanwhile, only an estimated 35% of cyber incidents are officially reported to authorities. This underreporting stems from limited detection capabilities and varying levels of security maturity.
Specifically, South Africa remains the most targeted market on the continent, accounting for 29% of ransomware attacks. Nigeria also ranks among the most affected markets for ransomware and dark-web threat activity. As a result, the initial rollout of the program will focus on these two nations.
“We recognize that for digitization to be inclusive, it must be trusted and secure. Mastercard has long been a trusted partner to South Africa, and its Cybersecurity Centre of Excellence is a welcome step to build on that foundation.”
Cyril Ramaphosa, President of South Africa
Operations of the Cybersecurity Center
The Cybersecurity Center will operate as a pan-African hub delivered through connected digital platforms. During its first year, the facility will conduct an analysis covering up to 50 organizations. Furthermore, participating entities will receive access to an Africa-focused threat intelligence feed developed by Recorded Future.
In addition, the facility will bring together chief information security officers and business leaders to share intelligence. This collaborative model aims to enable secure digital growth through joint exercises and coordinated responses. Consequently, the initiative will help build a more connected security network.
“Africa is dynamic, fast-growing, and ready to scale its digital future. That won’t happen without trust. People don’t use what they don’t trust.”
Michael Miebach, CEO of Mastercard
Three Core Pillars of the Initiative
The multi-year initiative is structured around three core pillars to support participating organizations. First, the threat intelligence pillar provides security assessments and a shared view of digital risks. Second, the collaboration pillar brings together security teams to advance best practices across industries.
Third, the readiness pillar helps organizations anticipate emerging threats through ongoing risk monitoring. Meanwhile, scenario-based exercises will strengthen response and recovery capabilities. Mastercard has invested more than 12.6 billion dollars in security innovation since 2018 to support these efforts.
Future Outlook for Digital Trust
Ultimately, the launch of this Cybersecurity Center represents a step toward building trust in digital transactions. By working alongside governments and financial institutions, the company plans to support sustainable growth. This initiative will gradually expand its capabilities to meet evolving market needs.
