The military government in Niger has officially declared Hausa as the country’s new national language, marking a significant shift away from its colonial past where French held a prominent position, okaynews.com reports.
This change was formalized in a new charter released on March 31st and published in the government’s official journal, which states, “The national language is Hausa,” while designating English and French as “working languages.”
Hausa is already the most widely spoken language in Niger, understood by a majority of its approximately 26 million people, in contrast to the roughly 13% who speak French. The charter also recognizes nine other local languages as “the spoken languages of Niger.”
This decision follows a national meeting in February where the military government garnered support and its leader, General Abdourahamane Tiani, received approval to remain in power for five more years. Since seizing power in a July 2023 coup, the junta has been actively distancing Niger from France, including expelling French troops, severing diplomatic ties, and renaming infrastructure with French associations, mirroring similar actions by neighboring Mali and Burkina Faso.
