In From Guns for Hire to Military Doctrine: Russia’s Institutionalization of Influence in Africa—Implications and Recommendations for U.S. Special Operations Forces, author Nadina Ronc analyzes Moscow’s transition from the Wagner Group to the state-run Africa Corps. This shift signals the formal integration of Russian irregular warfare into the Ministry of Defense's chain of command, allowing the Kremlin to combine military support, AI-driven disinformation, and "memory diplomacy" to exploit security gaps in nations like Mali, Libya, and Sudan. By trading regime security for access to strategic resources, Russia has created an elite-centric model that undermines regional stability and challenges Western influence.

To address the evolving security landscape, the monograph frames a strategic shift for U.S. Special Operations Forces (SOF) toward gray zone competition and proactive shaping operations. Ronc outlines an adaptable framework that emphasizes digital reconnaissance, localized influence strategies, and stronger horizontal networks with African partners to regain the initiative in contested environments and maintain U.S. credibility through precision effects and enduring partnerships.

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From Guns for Hire to Military Doctrine: Russia’s Institutionalization of Influence in Africa—Implications and Recommendations for U.S. Special Operations Forces

By Nadina Ronc

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