In a landmark decision signaling a decisive break from its colonial past, Niger’s ruling junta has declared Hausa as the new national language, replacing French.
The announcement was made through a new national charter published on March 31, following a national conference in February that further solidified military rule by allowing General Abdourahamane Tiani to remain in power for an additional five years. While English and French will continue to serve as working languages, nine other indigenous languages including Zarma-Songhay, Fula, Kanuri, and Arabic have been designated as “spoken languages of Niger.”
Hausa, spoken predominantly in the central and southern regions of Zinder, Maradi, and Tahoua, is the most widely used language among Niger’s 26 million people. In contrast, only around 13% of the population—roughly three million people—speak French.
This move is part of a broader regional trend, as Niger, Mali, and Burkina Faso, all now governed by military regimes, have collectively withdrawn from the Organisation Internationale de la Francophonie (OIF), distancing themselves from France’s lingering influence in West Africa. The adoption of Hausa marks not only a cultural reorientation but also a bold assertion of national identity and sovereignty in the face of long-standing colonial legacies.
