Niger has officially adopted Hausa as its national language, replacing French, in a significant move that deepens the country’s break from its colonial ties with France.
The announcement was made in a new charter issued on March 31, further solidifying the junta’s effort to assert national sovereignty following the July 2023 coup that ousted President Mohamed Bazoum.
Since taking power, the military government has taken a series of steps to distance the nation from France, including expelling French troops and renaming streets and public places that previously carried French names.
“The national language is Hausa,” the charter stated, adding that English and French will now serve as the country’s working languages.
This shift places Niger in line with fellow former French colonies Mali and Burkina Faso, which are also now under military rule and have similarly withdrawn from the Organisation Internationale de la Francophonie (OIF), a bloc of French-speaking nations.
Hausa is the most widely spoken language in Niger, a country of over 26 million people. It is predominantly used in the regions of Zinder, Maradi, and Tahoua, where it serves as a key language of communication and cultural identity.
In contrast, only about 13% of the population—roughly 3 million people—speak French, highlighting the disconnect between the colonial language and everyday life in Niger.
The new national charter also recognizes nine other languages—including Zarma-Songhay, Fula, Kanuri, Gourmanche, and Arabic—as part of the country’s “spoken languages.”
While the move to elevate Hausa has been welcomed by many as a reclaiming of national identity, critics view the broader changes as a way for the military regime to tighten its grip on power under the banner of decolonization.
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