In Nigeria, the main targets included telecommunications resellers and computing infrastructure providers. (Image source: NETSCOUT)

West Africa’s DDoS threat landscape was dominated by Nigeria and Mali, according to NETSCOUT’s Threat Intelligence Report for July to December 2024, which analyses global attack trends and techniques

Nigeria faced 1,716 attacks in the latter half of 2024, a notable decline from 2,721 incidents in the first six months. Meanwhile, Mali saw a dramatic surge, with attacks soaring from 115 in the first half to 1,637 in the second half of the year.

“Web search portals and all other information services bore the brunt of attacks in Mali, with an astounding average duration of 1,197 minutes per incident,” said Bryan Hamman, NETSCOUT’s regional director for Africa. “This was followed by wired telecommunications carriers, which was also the most targeted industry at a global level during the same period, with more than 2.1 million incidents.”

In Nigeria, the main targets included telecommunications resellers and computing infrastructure providers. Interestingly, beauty salons appeared among the top ten sectors attacked, alongside wired telecommunications carriers, commercial banks, used merchandise retailers, tyre dealers, and household electronics wholesalers. “This shows once again how threat actors adapt their strategies accordingly within different countries to target those industries that are strong in individual sovereign territories,” Hamman explained.

Nigeria also experienced some of the most complex DDoS campaigns in the region, with up to 22 different vendors involved in a single attack, primarily using TCP, DNS amplification, and ICMP flood (Ping flood) methods.

Liberia ranked next with 1,189 attacks, slightly fewer than the 1,515 reported earlier in 2024. The country’s computer systems design services sector was heavily targeted, suffering 360 attacks over six months. DNS amplification was the dominant attack vector, closely followed by STUN amplification.

Ghana recorded a sharp decline in attacks in the second half of 2024, falling to 917 from 4,753 earlier in the year. The ICT sector remained most targeted, including web search portals and information services (317 attacks), wired telecommunications carriers (43), and computing infrastructure providers. Notably, footwear manufacturers were third, enduring 14 attacks during the period.

The Democratic Republic of the Congo entered NETSCOUT’s rankings for the first time, coming in fifth with 879 attacks. Hamman noted, “While the most significant attack peaked at a modest 0.74 Gbps, the complexity was notable – with up to 15 vectors used in a single attack.” Computing infrastructure providers bore the brunt, though one satellite telecommunications attack lasted an exhausting 689 minutes.

Though Cameroon was not the most targeted country with 811 incidents, nor did it experience the most complex attacks, it recorded the highest bandwidth attack in the region at 200.43 Gbps – surpassing Nigeria’s 148.77 Gbps.

Meanwhile, Côte d'Ivoire, Guinea, and the Republic of the Congo faced fewer attacks, with 495, 341, and 329 incidents respectively. Côte d'Ivoire suffered the largest attack among them at 8.66 Gbps, targeting wired telecommunications carriers. Guinea’s wireless telecommunications carriers were most pressured, while telecommunications resellers were the hardest hit in the Republic of the Congo.

“This latest data from NETSCOUT reinforces a critical truth for West Africa: DDoS attacks aren’t just increasing in frequency, but also in intensity and sophistication,” Hamman emphasized. “While nations like Nigeria and Mali face a high volume of incidents, others are experiencing powerful, high-bandwidth attacks that can cripple essential services.

“As noted previously, the ICT sector remains firmly in the crosshairs across the continent in its entirety, making it vital for organisations across the region to prioritise proactive defence strategies, invest in continuous risk assessments and engage in broader cybersecurity collaboration to stay ahead of evolving threats,” he concluded.

MTN to deploy Mimosa’s wireless broadband solutions to its 288 million customers in 14 African countries

Mimosa Networks, a prominent global provider of wireless broadband solutions, has announced a new strategic partnership with Cambridge Broadband Networks Africa Limited (CBNLA) to deliver its acclaimed product portfolio to MTN, Africa’s largest mobile network operator

Through this collaboration, CBNLA will facilitate access to Mimosa’s high-performance fixed wireless products and services across all MTN locations.

This initiative allows MTN to deploy Mimosa’s wireless broadband solutions to its 288 million customers in 14 African countries.

MTN, with a vast customer base spanning multiple African markets, plays a pivotal role in enhancing digital connectivity across both urban centres and underserved rural areas. The integration of Mimosa’s cost-effective wireless technology, offering fiber-like speeds — supports MTN’s commitment to delivering faster, more reliable broadband access across the continent.

The agreement between Mimosa and CBNLA ensures MTN has streamlined access to a full range of Mimosa’s products, including high-capacity backhaul systems, access points, and client radios. These solutions operate over unlicensed spectrum, enabling rapid network expansion without the limitations of traditional infrastructure. As a regional service partner and systems integrator, CBNLA will assist MTN in efficiently deploying these solutions across diverse market conditions, supporting the growing demand for broadband and improving overall network performance.

“We are thrilled to collaborate with MTN and CBNLA to expand broadband access across Africa,” said Jim Nevelle, senior vice-president and general manager of Mimosa Networks. “This partnership aligns with our goal of delivering high-speed, affordable connectivity to both established and underserved regions, creating new opportunities for economic growth and digital inclusion.”

This collaboration marks a significant step in Mimosa’s broader strategy to expand affordable, high-speed broadband throughout Africa by working alongside major network operators and infrastructure partners.

OMEA and IFC unite to develop sustainable digital infrastructure in eight African countries. (Image source: IFC)

Orange Middle East and Africa (OMEA) has entered a strategic partnership with the International Finance Corporation (IFC) to boost access to digital services across eight African nations

The agreement was formalised during the Africa CEO Forum held in Abidjan on 12–13 May.

Focusing on underserved regions in West and Central Africa, this alliance aims to enhance digital inclusion and sustainability. It combines OMEA’s regional expertise and infrastructure with IFC’s development financing capabilities. Over the coming years, the collaboration will support the rollout of key telecom infrastructure, including towers and fibre networks.

The initiative builds on IFC’s prior involvement in the sector, such as its support for West Africa’s first telecom securitisation operation and its provision of sustainable financing to Sonatel. These efforts, valued at around US$75mn in 2024, have already strengthened Senegal’s digital infrastructure by expanding 4G and fibre coverage, particularly in rural areas.

Through this partnership, OMEA and IFC aim to establish a scalable investment model that bridges the digital divide, fosters financial inclusion, enhances regional resilience, and generates employment—especially in the digital sector.

“This partnership with IFC is a major step in accelerating our ambition to reduce the digital gap by offering quality, sustainable, and accessible connectivity to as many people as possible, especially in rural or underserved areas. By combining our strengths, we aim to build a more equitable digital future for everyone in Africa,” said Jérôme Hénique, CEO of Orange Middle East and Africa.

“Increasing access to digital connectivity in Africa is a key priority to foster innovation, expand financial inclusion, and create jobs. Strengthening our partnership with Orange Middle East and Africa demonstrates our commitment to positioning digital technology as a strategic lever for sustainable economic transformation, benefiting individuals and businesses,” added Ethiopis Tafara, IFC vice-president for Africa.

Demand for data centre services in Africa is rising fast

Africa Data Centres has deployed a self-cooling rack by Gold Synergy at its CPT1 facility in Cape Town to boost performance while minimising energy consumption

The installation represents a significant advancement in the evolution of high-density computing in Africa and supports Africa Data Centres’ commitment to sustainable, efficient infrastructure solutions, the company said in a statement.

The innovative self-cooling rack, commissioned in January 2025, is designed to meet the increasing demand for high-performance computing while minimising energy consumption, said Adil El Youssefi, CEO, Africa Data Centres.

As the region experiences rising power and cooling challenges driven by artificial intelligence, big data and enterprise workloads, self-contained cooling technologies offer a smart and scalable solution.

“Our collaboration with Gold Synergy introduces new efficiencies in high-density hosting,” said El Youssefi.

“By integrating this cutting-edge cooling solution at CPT1, we are creating a model for how data centres in Africa can scale intelligently while remaining aligned with global sustainability targets. The success of this deployment positions both Africa Data Centres and Gold Synergy to expand CDU-based cooling technologies across the region, further supporting Africa’s growing need for next-generation infrastructure.”

Gold Synergy brings a wealth of expertise in advanced cooling solutions.

The deployment at CPT1 demonstrates the viability of self-cooling racks in African conditions, setting the stage for broader collaboration in supporting regional ESG objectives, said Fortune Utubor, executive at Gold Synergy.

“Our self-cooling rack solution is a game-changing approach for high-density computing environments. This deployment reflects our shared commitment to energy efficiency and operational excellence.”

South Africa remains a strategic digital hub for the continent. With its reliable infrastructure, favourable location, and increasing demand for cloud and AI services, the country plays a pivotal role in the digital transformation of Africa.

As enterprises move mission-critical applications closer to home, infrastructure capable of supporting such workloads efficiently becomes essential.

The deployment not only increases the CPT1 facility’s hosting capacity without requiring major infrastructure modifications, but it also reinforces Africa Data Centres’ position as a leading carrier-neutral data centre provider on the continent.

The new solution helps reduce reliance on traditional cooling systems and contributes to operational cost savings for both clients and facility operators.

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