Metawar and the Future of Cognitive Sovereignty: Rethinking National Security Beyond Cyberspace

In the 21st century, warfare has transcended conventional battlefields, evolving into cognitive and perceptual domains that challenge traditional security paradigms. Metawar—a disruptive concept articulated by Pitshou Moleka—refers to the total and adaptive conflict for controlling narratives, perceptions, attention, and social cohesion. This paper positions Metawar as a new domain of warfare, synergizing cyber, information, psychological, and algorithmic operations to dominate cognitive landscapes.Drawing on systems theory, neurocognitive science, and cybernetics, the study argues that national security must incorporate a new axis of cognitive sovereignty. Through comparative case studies—Ethiopia, Ukraine, and Eastern DRC—this work identifies how Metawar is already reshaping conflict dynamics across multiple theatres.It further outlines a doctrinal framework comprised of five pillars: anticipation, strategic narrative protection, coordinated counter-influence, cognitive recovery, and interagency integration. The article concludes with policy recommendations aimed at strengthening national defense architectures in Africa and beyond, including the creation of specialized Metawar units and regional coordination mechanisms.By redefining defense to include mental and informational resiliency, the paper proposes that states which fail to adapt risk being overpowered not by force of arms, but by stealthy, pervasive cognitive operations.