Niger’s Military Government Declares Hausa as National Language, Moves Away from French Colonial Legacy
Niger’s military government has officially declared Hausa as the country’s new national language, marking a significant shift from its colonial past when French was the dominant language. This announcement was made in a new charter released on March 31, published in a special edition of the official government journal.
The charter states, “The national language is Hausa,” while also designating English and French as the working languages. Hausa, already the most widely spoken language in Niger, is particularly common in the Zinder, Maradi, and Tahoua regions. With a population of approximately 26 million people, the majority in Niger speak and understand Hausa, while only about 13 percent, or 3 million people, can communicate in French.
In addition to Hausa, the new charter officially recognizes nine other local languages as “the spoken languages of Niger,” including Zarma-Songhay, Fula, Kanuri, Gourmanche, and Arabic.
This decision comes amid rising support for the military government, led by General Abdourahamane Tiani, who has been in power since a coup in July 2023 that ousted the civilian president, Mohamed Bazoum. During the announcement, General Tiani also received approval to stay in power for another five years.
Since taking control, the junta has taken steps to sever ties with France, withdrawing French troops, ending diplomatic relations, and renaming streets and buildings that previously had French names. Niger’s actions mirror those of other countries in the region, such as Mali and Burkina Faso, which have also seen military governments take similar steps, including leaving the Organisation Internationale de la Francophonie, the international association of French-speaking countries.
