In a significant shift signaling further detachment from its colonial past, Niger’s ruling military junta has officially adopted Hausa as the national language, replacing French. This decision was announced in a new national charter published on March 31, following a national conference held in February.
According to the charter, “the national language is Hausa,” while English and French are now designated as working languages. This change marks a major cultural and political pivot for the West African country, which has been under military rule since the ousting of civilian president Mohamed Bazoum in July 2023.
Since seizing power, Niger’s junta has made a series of moves to distance itself from France, its former colonial ruler. These include expelling French troops, renaming streets and monuments bearing French names, and—alongside Mali and Burkina Faso—exiting the Organisation Internationale de la Francophonie (OIF), an institution akin to the Commonwealth.
Hausa, spoken widely across central and southern regions like Zinder, Maradi, and Tahoua, is the most commonly used language among Niger’s 26 million citizens. In contrast, French is spoken by just around 13 percent of the population—approximately three million people.
The new charter also recognizes nine other local languages, including Zarma-Songhay, Fula, Kanuri, Gourmanche, and Arabic, as “spoken languages of Niger.”
Additionally, the charter grants extended powers to junta leader General Abdourahamane Tiani, allowing him to remain in power for the next five years, further solidifying the military’s hold on the country.
