Niger’s military government has officially declared Hausa as the country’s new national language, shifting away from its colonial past where the French played a central role.
This change was announced in a new charter released on March 31, published in a special edition of the government’s official journal, stating that “The national language is Hausa” and “the working languages are English and French”.
Hausa is already the most commonly spoken language across Niger, especially in the Zinder, Maradi, and Tahoua regions, with most of the country’s 26 million population understanding and speaking it, compared to only around three million people who can speak French.
The new charter also lists nine other local languages, including Zarma-Songhay, Fula, Kanuri, Gourmanche, and Arabic, as “the spoken languages of Niger”.
This linguistic change follows a national meeting held in February, where the military government received more support and General Abdourahamane Tiani, the junta leader, was granted permission to remain in power for five more years.
Since taking over in a coup in July 2023, the junta has severed ties with France, including withdrawing French troops, terminating diplomatic relations, and altering the names of roads and structures that formerly had French names.
