Participants in the international program Management of Subsoil Use Facilities at Empress Catherine II Saint Petersburg Mining University completed an interactive course under the guidance of former Austrian Foreign Minister Karin Kneissl. This experience enabled them to receive an impartial assessment of the development prospects of the African continent from a well-known diplomat, expert in international relations and the global economy, and head of the Geopolitical Observatory for Russia’s Key Issues (G.O.R.K.I.) at Saint Petersburg State University.
Nineteen participants from Burundi, Mali, Niger, Nigeria, Sudan, Sierra Leone, and South Africa were selected by the relevant ministries of their countries and the Saint Petersburg university to take part in the one-year educational program. In September 2025, these specialists from government agencies and managers from Africa's mineral resources sector arrived in Russia for professional retraining.
During this period, in addition to theoretical studies, they completed drilling practice at the university’s Training and Research Site “Sablino” and geophysical practice at the Kuzmolovo facility. In December, they had the opportunity to visit key industry institutions in Moscow, and in January, they traveled to Tatarstan, where they familiarized themselves with the infrastructure of Almetyevsk State Technological University – Higher School of Petroleum, the TatNIPIneft Institute—the research center of Tatneft—and the Tatarstan Oil Refining Complex.
Karin Kneissl’s two-day course included lectures, open discussions, and a business simulation in which a model conference on African partnership was held.
The key theme of the course was the 'Ongoing Scramble for Africa'. The diplomat detailed the development of the race for influence on the continent from the Berlin Conference in 1884 to the present day. The lecturer outlined the roles of France, Great Britain, Germany, and multilateral financial institutions in this process, presented her view of the different approaches to cooperation pursued by Russia, China, and the United States, and assessed their real interests and chances of success.
Under the instructor’s guidance, the African mining professionals sought to understand the motives and objectives of various investors—whether corporate or state—within the framework of their political strategies. The theoretical modules provided material for reflection and an opportunity to apply the acquired knowledge during the simulated conference.
Six hours were allocated for the business simulation, including informal discussions, alliance-building, and the drafting of a final document. The conference agenda was selected in advance, and roles were distributed among all the “delegates.” Ms. Kneissl has extensive experience participating in international conferences between the EU and Africa, which made the model as close to reality as possible.
The course is titled “African Partnership – Between Slogans and Reality,” reflecting the existing imbalance between proclaimed intentions and implemented decisions. In an interview with Forpost, Karin Kneissl discussed what the race for resources looks like in the 21st century and the fundamental difference in the Russian approach to the concept of partnership.
- How important and promising, in today’s geopolitical and economic realities, is the international program organized by the Mining University for specialists from Africa?
- Our young colleagues come from a mining and geological background and are qualified engineers. I, on the other hand, am from the world of geopolitics – a former diplomat and minister, a teacher, and an expert. An honest dialogue between these two worlds can be highly relevant and fruitful in terms of developing joint solutions.
What I would like to say concerns the real picture behind the somewhat exaggerated topic of partnership with Africa. This is the richest continent on the planet—not only in terms of “hard” resources such as minerals, lithium, and oil, but also in terms of “soft” resources, namely food. Today, we are witnessing a surge of interest—a race for control over certain resources—largely reminiscent of what occurred in the 19th century during the colonial era, and later in the 1970s and 1980s around oil. Today, this competition has returned in a new form.
Together with participants of the Management of Subsoil Use Facilities program at Empress Catherine II Saint Petersburg Mining University, we sought to develop an understanding of what has happened, why it has happened, and what the African response might be.
- What did Africa’s subsoil resources mean for Europe, and for Germany in particular?
- Colonial policy has always been based on the desire to enter the continent and extract raw materials at the lowest possible cost, to sell one’s own goods, and to deny oppressed countries the right to pursue an independent policy. One should expect nothing from Europe other than a clear and consistent pursuit of its own business interests.
Germany is known as one of the world’s leading industrial powers, with highly developed sectors including the automotive industry, mechanical engineering, chemicals, and energy. However, if one looks at the German economy in historical perspective, it becomes clear that nine out of ten major manufacturing companies were founded before the Second World War. Volkswagen, Mercedes-Benz, the chemical giant BASF, and many others. The technological leap that followed was to a large extent connected precisely with Africa and the exploitation of its resources. The colonies became a source of coal, metal ores, gold, diamonds, and oil, all of which were in demand in German industry.
- If we analyze the approaches of different countries and coalitions to partnership with the African continent, what is the basis of Russia’s approach?
- Russia has a distinct approach to international relations, largely based on trust and mutually beneficial cooperation. I respect this concept. It differs fundamentally from the strategy typically seen in the Anglo-Saxon or British world, where there is a tendency to dictate what should be done in order to be “happy” and “civilized.
Today, Russia acts as an alternative for many African countries, which, at certain periods, had only the United States, the European Union, and China as potential partners. However, it is always important to have a choice—for example, a Russian company granted a concession for mineral extraction on mutually beneficial terms, or a university acting as a partner in the field of education.
In Russia, significant resources have traditionally been invested in education—Empress Catherine II Saint Petersburg Mining University is a clear example. This raises an important question: how can graduates be retained as long-term partners? Or will they, after two or three years, begin working for American, Canadian, or Australian companies because of higher salaries? This is the reality of the market. I believe it is essential to integrate a personal, emotional dimension into education, to develop student communities, and to maintain connections with alumni. In some Arab countries, I have seen that graduates of Soviet universities still feel a sense of attachment, but this attachment must be actively supported—not only with kind words, but with concrete actions.
- What motivated you to cooperate with the Mining University?
- For me, this cooperation is very important. I have always preferred to work with people who are grounded in reality. I often joke that I represent the world of words and diplomacy, while engineers embody the world of concrete actions and production. By combining our strengths through an interdisciplinary approach, we enhance our overall impact. I am not an engineer—my specialization lies in law and international relations—but just as I learn from engineers, I am confident that they can also learn something from me.