Celebrated under the theme ‘Translation, shaping a fiture you can trust’ the Ministry of Defence was poised to make a significant mark by commemorating World Translation Day for the first time.

The event aimed to enhance the crucial role of translators and interpreters of the Ministry of Defence as full-fledged actors in guaranteeing national security and sovereignty, to raise awareness among all personnel and structures of the Ministry of Defence on the strategic importance of multilingual, to strengthen the collaboration between the translation unit and other structures by promoting good practices in the field of bilingualism, and the translation and interpretation unit not only as a modern centre of expertise, at the forefront of new technologies ( particularly Artificial Intelligence applied to translation), but also as a structure at the forefront of global challenges and mutations currently taking place on the international scene.

Speaking during the ceremony, the Vice-Amiral Njine Njonkam Pierre highlighted the significance of this day and the role of translation in defence sector. He also acknowledged the vital contributions of translators and interpreters in ensuring effective communication within the Ministry of Defence. The Vice-Amiral also emphasized that translation is not merely about converting words from one language to another, it is about fostering understanding and trust among diverse cultures.

This day not only honours the art of translation but also highlights its critical role in facilitating communication and understanding in our increasingly interconnected world. It should be recalled that, the United Nations General Assembly officially recognised this day in 2017, although the International Federation of Translation (FIT) has been celebrating it since 1991.