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Africa’s largest mobile network operator, MTN Group, has confirmed a cybersecurity breach resulting in the unauthorised access of personal information belonging to customers in certain markets.
The company, which operates in Nigeria and 15 other countries across Africa and the Middle East, did not specify which markets were affected.
In a statement issued late on Thursday, MTN clarified that the incident had no impact on its core network, billing systems, or financial services infrastructure, all of which remain secure and fully operational.
The breach involved a third party gaining access to parts of MTN’s systems, raising concerns over potential data exposure. However, the company emphasised that, at present, there is no evidence to suggest that customers’ accounts or wallets have been directly compromised.
Upon discovering the breach, MTN said it swiftly activated its cybersecurity response protocols. The telecoms giant reported the incident to law enforcement authorities in South Africa, including the South African Police Service (SAPS) and the Hawks, and has notified the relevant regulatory agencies in affected countries.
MTN added that it is working closely with these authorities as investigations continue and has begun the process of notifying affected customers, in compliance with local regulatory requirements.
As a precautionary measure, the company urged customers to remain vigilant and follow recommended cybersecurity practices, including placing a fraud alert on their credit reports with major credit bureaus, and regularly updating MTN, MoMo, and banking applications.
Furthermore, using strong, unique passwords and changing them regularly, while avoiding suspicious links and unsolicited messages.
Customers were urged to never disclosing sensitive information such as passwords, PINs, or OTPs via phone, SMS, or email. Finally, enabling multifactor authentication wherever available.
MTN reiterated that the privacy and security of customer information remain a top priority. “We are committed to safeguarding the integrity of our systems and the trust placed in us by our customers and stakeholders,” the company stated.
The Group assured stakeholders that it is managing the situation carefully and will continue to provide updates as further information emerges.
The cybersecurity breach at MTN comes amid heightened global concern over digital security threats, particularly targeting telecoms and financial services providers.
Only last week, South Korea’s largest mobile operator, SK Telecom, warned that malware infections had allowed threat actors to access sensitive USIM-related information. The breach was detected on Saturday, 19 April 2025, during a weekend cyberattack when many organisations were understaffed.
