Niger has officially adopted Hausa as its national language, marking a significant shift from its colonial past under French rule. This move comes as part of a series of actions taken by the country’s military junta since they ousted civilian President Mohamed Bazoum in July 2023.
In a bold statement published in the official journal on March 31, Niger’s military government declared, “The national language is Hausa,” while also maintaining English and French as working languages. This decision reflects Niger’s ongoing efforts to distance itself from its former colonial power, France. The junta has already expelled French soldiers and renamed streets and monuments that once bore French names.
Hausa, which is spoken by the majority of Niger’s population, especially in the central-southern regions of Zinder and Maradi, will now serve as the country’s primary language. Only about 13 percent of Niger’s population, or just over three million people, speak French, highlighting the disconnect between the colonial language and the native tongues of the people.
Additionally, nine other languages, including Zarma-Songhay, Fula, Kanuri, Gourmanche, and Arabic, are now recognized as the country’s spoken languages, further emphasizing Niger’s linguistic diversity.
This change comes on the heels of Niger, Mali, and Burkina Faso, all former French colonies now governed by military juntas, leaving the Organisation Internationale de la Francophonie (OIF), a group that promotes French language and culture across the globe.
The new language policy is part of broader reforms outlined in a national conference held in February, which also extended the mandate of junta leader General Abdourahamane Tiani for the next five years.
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