Niger’s military-led government has declared Hausa as the country’s new national language, replacing French in a move further distancing the nation from its former colonial power, France.
"The national language is Hausa" while "the working languages are English and French," the junta stated in a new charter published on March 31 in a special edition of the government’s official journal.
Hausa, Niger’s most widely spoken language, is particularly common in the regions of Zinder, Maradi, and Tahoua. It is understood and spoken by a significant portion of the population, estimated at 26 million people.
In contrast, French is spoken by only about 13 per cent of Nigeriens — roughly three million individuals.
According to the new charter, nine other local languages, including Zarma-Songhay, Fula, Kanuri, Gourmanche, and Arabic, will now be officially recognised as "the spoken languages of Niger."
This decision follows a national conference held in February, which strengthened the junta’s authority and granted its leader, General Abdourahamane Tiani, a mandate to remain in power for five more years.
Since taking control in a July 2023 coup that ousted civilian president Mohamed Bazoum, Niger’s ruling junta has severed diplomatic ties with France, expelled French troops, and renamed streets and landmarks that once had French names.
This latest change aligns Niger with neighbouring military regimes in Mali and Burkina Faso — also former French colonies — that have similarly distanced themselves from France and withdrawn from the Organisation Internationale de la Francophonie (OIF), a post-colonial institution akin to the Commonwealth.
