[DIGITAL Business Africa] – As Cameroon accelerates its digital transformation, cybercrime is emerging as one of the country’s main security challenges. Online scams, identity theft, intrusions into information systems, attacks on institutional reputations and the exploitation of technical vulnerabilities: threats are multiplying. Figures recently released by the Director General of the National Agency for Information and Communication Technologies (ANTIC), Prof. Ebot Ebot Enaw, paint an unvarnished picture of the situation.
A surge in digital investigation requisitions
In 2025, ANTIC processed 32,500 judicial requisitions, a 30% increase on 2024. These requisitions, received daily by the agency, relate to investigations into offences committed using digital tools. On average, nearly 200 requisitions are recorded each day, some involving multiple suspects, reflecting growing operational pressure on digital investigation teams.
Thousands of vulnerabilities detected in systems
Since January 2024, vulnerability scans and security audits conducted by ANTIC in public administrations and private companies have identified 8,502 vulnerabilities. These technical flaws, often exploited by cybercriminals, expose systems to intrusions, data leaks and digital sabotage. Each detection is followed by corrective measures to strengthen the security mechanisms of the affected entities.
Fake accounts and identity theft on social networks
Cybercrime is no longer limited to technical attacks. It has now spread to social networks, which have become a preferred ground for identity theft and information manipulation. Since January 2024, ANTIC has identified 8,499 fake accounts impersonating senior State officials or public institutions. Thanks to cooperation with platforms such as Facebook and TikTok, 6,416 of these accounts have been shut down, reducing the risks of fraud, disinformation and damage to institutional credibility.
Digital evidence at the heart of judicial proceedings
Within judicial investigations, ANTIC also plays a key role in the authentication of digital evidence. At the request of judicial authorities, 206 reports authenticating digital evidence were produced, confirming the central role of electronic data in contemporary criminal procedures.
Ever-growing volumes of data to process
Digital investigations generate vast volumes of data. According to ANTIC, around 200 gigabytes of data are processed daily for investigative purposes, amounting to nearly 73 terabytes per year. This volume grows by about 10% annually, imposing high requirements for storage, processing and analysis to respond effectively to requests within tight deadlines.
The e-Gov’A Summit
This reality also underscores the urgent need for structured dialogue among public authorities, digital experts and private-sector actors on issues of cybersecurity, identity theft and digital governance. This is precisely the rationale for the e-Gov’A Forum, scheduled for May 14–16, 2026, under the theme: “Artificial intelligence and e-governance: building efficient public services in a cashless and paperless Africa”.
This continental event aims to raise awareness among public decision-makers of the need for an official, well-managed institutional presence on the web, a key condition for combating the proliferation of fake accounts, disinformation and cyber threats. It also seeks to promote a culture of cybersecurity grounded in technology, governance and user awareness.
A major strengthening of capacities through PATNUC
Faced with the growing scale of attacks and requests, Cameroon has committed to substantially strengthening its operational cybersecurity capacities. In this context, the equipment acquisition project for the Cybersecurity Incident Response Center (CIRT), financed by the Digital Transformation Acceleration Project (PATNUC), has enabled ANTIC to be equipped with a cutting-edge technological system comprising five high-performance servers, three digital investigation platforms, twenty storage consoles, thirty specialised workstations, and three vulnerability scanning and penetration testing platforms. These tools are intended to enhance monitoring, analysis, and response to cyber incidents at the national level.
The call from ICT Media STRATEGIES
For Beaugas Orain Djoyum, Managing Director of ICT Media STRATEGIES, “these figures clearly show that cybercrime is no longer an abstract threat, but a daily reality in Cameroon. The explosion of fake accounts and identity theft requires public decision-makers, institutional leaders and business executives to occupy the digital space themselves in an official, professional and proactive manner. Absence online leaves the field open to impostors.” He adds: “Beyond repression, awareness-raising among citizens, administrations and economic actors remains essential. Being present on digital platforms is key. A safer cyberspace also depends on better digital culture and collective vigilance.”
Towards a safer and more resilient cyberspace
While these investments represent major progress, the Director General of ANTIC stresses that technology alone is not enough. Strengthening human skills remains a crucial lever. Complementary training projects for ANTIC staff and public administration agents have therefore been submitted to PATNUC, with the ambition of building a safer, more resilient and more attractive Cameroonian cyberspace for citizens, businesses, startups and investors.
By Digital Business Africa
