Niger Republic Replaces French with Hausa as Official Language
In a bold move to break from its colonial legacy, Niger Republic’s ruling junta has declared Hausa the nation’s official language, replacing French as the country’s lingua franca.
The change was officially documented in a new national charter published on March 31 in a special edition of the government’s official journal. According to the document, “The National Language is Hausa,” while English and French have been designated as working languages.
This linguistic shift is part of a broader campaign by Niger’s military government—led by General Abdourahamane Tiani—to redefine national identity and reduce French influence, following the July 2023 coup that ousted President Mohamed Bazoum.
Since taking power, the junta has expelled French troops, severed diplomatic ties with France, and removed French names from public monuments and streets. The adoption of Hausa, spoken by a majority of Nigeriens, underscores a move toward cultural self-determination.
Hausa is widely spoken across central and southern Niger, particularly in regions such as Zinder, Maradi, and Tahoua. By contrast, only about 13 percent of Niger’s 26 million people speak French—a remnant of its colonial past.
The charter also recognizes nine other indigenous languages, including Zarma-Songhay, Fula, Kanuri, Gourmanche, and Arabic, as “spoken languages of Niger.”
The decision follows a national conference held in February, where delegates extended the junta’s mandate by five more years—a move seen as solidifying military control.
Niger now joins Mali and Burkina Faso—also former French colonies under military rule—in distancing itself from Francophone institutions. The three nations have collectively withdrawn from the Organisation Internationale de la Francophonie (OIF), an international body that promotes French language and culture.
