Nuclear Energy Dialogue: Connecting Russia and Mali Through Translation

Here I am with the Malian delegation that came to Russia in 2024 for the Forum called "Atom for Sustainable Development," where I served as the official interpreter for His Excellency the Minister of Economy and Finance, Mr. Sanou, and the Minister of Transport, Ms. Madina. I provided interpretation from Russian to French and vice versa.

The "Atom for Sustainable Development" Forum, organized by Rosatom, brought together government officials and industry leaders from over 70 countries to discuss nuclear energy's role in achieving sustainable development goals. For African countries facing severe energy deficits, the forum represented an important opportunity to explore how nuclear technology might contribute to their development strategies.

The Malian delegation was led by two distinguished ministers whose presence reflected the strategic importance Mali attached to this forum. Minister Sanou brought expertise in macroeconomic policy and investment strategies, seeking to understand whether nuclear energy could represent a viable economic option for Mali. Minister Madina, responsible for transport infrastructure, brought a complementary perspective on the logistical dimensions of major energy projects.

My role as official interpreter placed me at the center of every interaction between the Malian ministers and their Russian counterparts. This required not only linguistic fluency but also deep understanding of technical nuclear energy concepts, familiarity with specialized terminology in both languages, and diplomatic sensitivity to high-level governmental interactions.

The forum produced concrete outcomes including a memorandum of understanding between Mali and Rosatom, commitments for feasibility studies and training programs, and strengthened personal relationships facilitating future cooperation. This experience reinforced my understanding that language professionals play essential roles in international cooperation—bridging not just words, but enabling the mutual understanding necessary for meaningful partnerships.