In a landscape where digital threats are escalating across Africa, posing direct risks to national defence infrastructures, military communications, and critical assets, a new collaboration between a leading American cybersecurity firm and a pan-African response network promises to bolster collective defences. Resecurity, a Los Angeles-based company specialising in threat intelligence and risk management, has formalised a Joint Cooperation Agreement with AfricaCERT, the continent’s foremost organisation for coordinating national and regional computer emergency response teams. This alliance focuses on exchanging real-time cyber threat data, enhancing skills through targeted programmes, and streamlining responses to incidents that could undermine security operations from the Sahel to the southern tip of the continent.
The urgency of such partnerships becomes clear when examining the current threat environment. Recent assessments, including a 2025 report from INTERPOL, reveal a marked increase in cyber incidents across Africa, with cybercrime now accounting for a substantial portion of reported offences. Financial repercussions have been severe, with estimates placing losses at over $3 billion between 2019 and 2025, affecting sectors like finance, healthcare, and energy that often intersect with military logistics and supply chains. In the first quarter of 2025 alone, Africa emerged as the most targeted region globally for cyberattacks, averaging 3,365 weekly incidents per organisation, a 14 percent rise from the previous year, according to security firm Check Point. Countries such as Kenya reported a staggering 2.54 billion threat events in that period, while spyware detections on businesses grew by 14 percent, as noted by Kaspersky. These attacks frequently aim at government networks, military systems, and telecommunications, exploiting vulnerabilities to disrupt operations or exfiltrate sensitive data that could compromise defence strategies. For instance, militaries in nations like South Africa have been identified as particularly susceptible, with studies from Stellenbosch University highlighting gaps in awareness and preparedness that leave forces open to infiltration. As African armed forces increasingly rely on digital tools for command and control, surveillance, and logistics, the need for robust cybersecurity has become integral to maintaining operational integrity and deterring adversaries who blend kinetic and cyber tactics.
Under the new agreement, Resecurity grants AfricaCERT access to its advanced Context and Risk cyber threat intelligence platforms, tools engineered for national-scale monitoring, risk assessment, and investigative support. Context enables in-depth scrutiny of digital dangers, drawing from a vast array of sources to pinpoint vulnerabilities in real time, while Risk automates the evaluation of digital exposures, alerting users to shifts in security posture caused by data breaches, compromised credentials, or network intrusions. These same systems have proven effective for non-governmental organisations combating issues like human trafficking and fraud, both within Africa and beyond, by uncovering illicit activities on the deep and dark web. For AfricaCERT, this means gaining the ability to spot information leaks, track malicious campaigns aimed at African digital resources, and dissect new threats affecting governments, militaries, and businesses. In a region where attacks on critical infrastructure—such as those disrupting energy grids or military communications—can have cascading effects on stability, this visibility equips responders to act before minor breaches escalate into major crises.
AfricaCERT’s Operations Manager, Mr. Kodzo Gadzekpo Adomey, has stressed the value of this timely intelligence in safeguarding key systems. He explained that the organisation’s core aim involves monitoring leaks and threats directed at African nations as they unfold, allowing for proactive measures against assaults on infrastructure, financial networks, and personal data. Through the partnership, AfricaCERT accesses insights into worldwide threat actors and operations influencing the continent, which in turn sharpens coordinated responses at both national and international levels. This is particularly vital for defence sectors, where cyber intrusions could compromise troop movements, intelligence sharing, or supply chains, as seen in recent incidents where hackers targeted Algerian systems or South African military networks.
Shawn Loveland, Resecurity’s Chief Operating Officer, echoed this sentiment, expressing pride in joining forces with AfricaCERT to foster intelligence-driven security practices. He noted that the collaboration reflects a mutual dedication to proactive defences and nurturing trust in Africa’s digital expansion, which is essential for economic growth and military modernisation alike. As African countries pursue digitisation—integrating technologies like drones, secure communications, and data analytics into defence operations—the risk of exploitation by state-sponsored groups or cybercriminals grows, making such intelligence-led approaches indispensable.
The agreement extends beyond mere technology transfer to encompass comprehensive capacity development. Resecurity and AfricaCERT will conduct joint training sessions, workshops, and simulations to hone skills among responders, ensuring that national teams can handle sophisticated threats like advanced persistent threats or digital fraud schemes that target African entities. Information exchange will cover patterns in cybercrime, persistent hacker groups, and scams, enabling a unified front against transnational dangers. Both parties plan to engage in global cybersecurity forums and panels, amplifying Africa’s voice in international discussions on defence against hybrid threats. In the event of large-scale incidents—such as ransomware crippling military hospitals or espionage campaigns stealing defence blueprints—they commit to collaborative interventions, pooling resources for swift resolution.
AfricaCERT, in reciprocity, will aid Resecurity’s expansion in the region by promoting awareness, offering endorsements, and co-participating in development initiatives. Regular strategic discussions will allow the duo to assess advancements, exchange observations, and refine tactics amid an ever-changing threat panorama. Governance provisions in the pact safeguard confidentiality, impose limits on data usage, and protect intellectual property, with both sides pledging to honour sensitive protocols and maintain stakeholder confidence.
This initiative aligns with broader calls for enhanced cyber warfare capabilities in African militaries, as outlined in academic analyses advocating for continuous improvements to counter evolving risks. Nations like Ghana and South Africa have recognised cybersecurity as a pillar of national security, with strategies emphasising awareness and rapid response to shield military assets from digital assaults. The African Union has also advanced efforts, though ratification of frameworks like the Malabo Convention lags, underscoring the role of partnerships like this in filling gaps.
Resecurity stands as a unified provider of endpoint safeguards, anti-fraud measures, risk oversight, and threat intelligence, founded in 2016 and acclaimed by Inc. Magazine as one of Los Angeles’s fastest-growing private cybersecurity enterprises. Its data-centric solutions emphasise early detection of breaches and holistic risk mitigation, serving clients worldwide through affiliations with groups like InfraGard National Members Alliance, the Armed Forces Communications and Electronics Association, the National Defense Industrial Association, the Security Industry Association, the Financial Services Information Sharing and Analysis Center, and American Chambers of Commerce in various countries including Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Korea, Mexico, Thailand, and the United Arab Emirates.
AfricaCERT functions as the hub for African national and regional computer emergency response teams, driving cooperation in incident handling and fortifying digital endurance continent-wide. It advances readiness via technical education, standard-setting, and aiding the establishment of security operations centres and response units. By enabling trusted data flows among members and allies, it tackles emerging perils to vital infrastructure, administrations, and companies. As a pivotal actor, AfricaCERT partners with worldwide entities to craft a more secure online realm for Africa.
