Chief audit executives point to digital disruption and climate change as the most rapidly growing risks in Africa and globally over the next three years, according to the Institute of Internal Auditors Africa Risk in Focus report for 2025.
In Africa, while cybersecurity remains the top risk over the period, digital disruption is expected to rise 21 percentage points into second place and climate change 18 percentage points into fourth place, pushing financial liquidity and fraud out of the top five.
African countries face some of the most severe risks as a result of climate change
Climate change
African countries face some of the most severe risks as a result of climate change, with increased incidence of extreme weather events such as droughts, floods and intense heat. In Africa, 43% of respondents expect climate change to be a top-five risk in three years’ time, compared with 32% in the Middle East and just 23% in the US.
AI disruption
Over the past two years, the rapid proliferation of generative AI in many parts of the world has added to existing high levels of digital disruption. In Africa, where AI is not yet widely in use, cybersecurity is considered by 64% of respondents as the primary area where it could have a negative effect, followed by human capital (55%) and business continuity (40%).
Among the 14 other risk areas covered by the survey, none were expected to show change as dramatic as climate change and digital disruption.
