Niger Republic Ditches French, Adopts Hausa as National Language

Niger’s military-led government has officially declared Hausa as the country’s new national language, replacing French, marking a significant break from its colonial past.

A charter published on March 31 in the official government journal states, “The national language is Hausa,” while English and French remain the working languages.

Hausa, the most widely spoken language in Niger, is understood by a large portion of the country’s 26 million people, particularly in the regions of Zinder, Maradi, and Tahoua. In contrast, only about 13% of the population, or around three million people, speak French.

The new charter also recognizes nine other local languages, including Zarma-Songhay, Fula, Kanuri, Gourmanche, and Arabic, as “the spoken languages of Niger.”

This decision follows a national conference in February, which solidified the junta’s authority and granted its leader, General Abdourahamane Tiani, a five-year mandate.

Since taking control in a July 2023 coup that ousted civilian president Mohamed Bazoum, the junta has severed ties with France, including expelling French troops, cutting diplomatic relations, and renaming streets and landmarks once named after France.

Niger’s move aligns with a broader regional trend. Neighboring countries like Mali and Burkina Faso, also former French colonies under military regimes, have similarly distanced themselves from France, even withdrawing from the Organisation Internationale de la Francophonie (OIF), a body similar to the Commonwealth.