A strange wind is blowing over the world. Between lightning-fast technological breakthroughs and the creeping return of power-driven domination logic, some emerging dynamics demand close attention, especially the unusual proximity between Donald Trump and Elon Musk. Two men, two ambitions, and one undeniable common trait: a thirst for influence and a taste for disruption.
As Trump appears poised to return to the White House with more confidence and fewer checks than before, questions about Musk’s intentions for Africa are surfacing. Born in apartheid-era South Africa, Musk has never truly severed his ties emotional or strategic with the continent.
Could Musk envision a deeper “African project” that goes beyond business and ventures into a concealed nostalgia for a past order one where Africa is a land to be tamed, not partnered with?
This possibility becomes even more disturbing when one considers South Africa’s recent decision to recall its ambassador from Washington, which speaks volumes. It reflects the discomfort with Washington’s current posture and the growing sense that the Trump-Musk axis could embolden a new form of geopolitical pressure on African states.
More alarming still is the casual discourse in certain Western spheres around forced population transfers, echoing colonial mechanisms. If Trump’s return is accompanied by the tacit or overt support of Elon Musk, whose interests span space, AI, energy, and digital ecosystems, Africa could be caught in a spiral of political instability and economic manipulation.
Southern Africa, with its historic racial tensions and fragile balances, could become the stage for renewed conflict, especially if Musk’s voice, technology, and influence revive narratives from a darker past.
Africa must remain vigilant. It cannot afford to be a testing ground for imperial nostalgia dressed in modern clothes. It must own its narrative, protect its sovereignty, and choose its future with clarity and independence.
