By Zubeida Jaffer
On 15 July 2026, the U.S. Army formally activated a new psychological operations company dedicated to the African continent.
The unit, Delta Company, 7th Psychological Operations Battalion (Special Operations) (Airborne), also uses the nickname “Drongo Company.”
The battalion falls under the 1st Special Forces Command (Airborne) and ultimately under U.S. Army Special Operations Command.
The parent battalion is primarily responsible for psychological operations throughout the U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM) area of responsibility and provides continuous support to contingency operations. The battalion’s motto is Potentia et Adduco, rendered as “To Influence and Persuade.”
The Army described the activation as part of a wider transformation initiative within its special operations forces. Reporting by Stars and Stripes noted the move comes as the Army modernizes against adversaries with significant capabilities for influencing foreign audiences. It further notes that American psychological operations include both information activities directed at foreign populations and governments and military deception directed at adversaries in combat.
The company’s nickname references the drongo, a small African bird known for mimicking the alarm calls of other species to frighten them off and seize their food. In an official statement, the Army said the bird pays tribute to the psychological operations mission — to “influence the objective reasoning, motives and behaviours of key audiences.”
The activation ceremony was held at Fort Bragg in North Carolina where Captain Richard Koch assumed command.
The African Centre for Security and Intelligence Praxis (ACSIP) has assessed the strategic significance of this development. In a memorandum, it has outlined the key concerns facing African governments and citizens. This is summarised as follows:
What the Army has not said, according to ACSIP, is how many soldiers are in the company, how much it will cost, which African countries it will focus on first, what languages its teams speak, whether personnel will be based in Africa or rotate from the U.S., what digital or AI tools it will use, which political movements or populations it will target, or how it will coordinate with U.S. embassies, intelligence agencies and private contractors.
The unit’s job, according to ACSIP, is to study, shape and contest the information that influences African publics and decisionmakers. In practice, that can include:
• Mapping influential people and networks in politics, the military, religion and communities.
• Designing and running influence campaigns using radio, print, video, social media and other channels.
• Countering rival narratives from other states or armed groups.
• Supporting military deception in operations.
• Working through local partners so messages appear to come from inside African societies rather than from a foreign army.
The nickname itself is telling. The drongo is an African bird known for mimicking other birds’ alarm calls to scare them away and steal their food. The Army has openly used this as a metaphor for its mission: influence by mimicry and manipulation of perception. That level of candour suggests the unit is not about simple public diplomacy, but targeted influence and behavioural shaping among specific audiences.
This move does not create U.S. psychological operations in Africa; it expands and hardens them. What is new is a dedicated company embedded in an Africafocused Special Forces group, signalling a permanent, more capable, and betterintegrated influence capability.
Sources
The facts in this article were drawn from a U.S. Army public release and reporting by Stars and Stripes, the independent, Congress-authorised daily newspaper of the U.S. Armed forces that reports on military and community issues, especially for service members stationed overseas. It also draws on a memorandum prepared by Andre Zaaiman at The African Centre for Security and Intelligence Praxis (ACSIP) issued on 21 July 2026.
This article first appeared at www.zubeidajaffer.co.za
