NIAMEY, Niger — Niger’s military-led government has officially declared Hausa as the country’s new national language, replacing French, marking a significant break from its former colonial ruler, France.
In a new charter published on Monday, March 31, 2025, the junta announced that “the national language is Hausa,” while also stating that English and French would remain the country’s working languages.
This shift reflects Niger’s ongoing efforts to reassert its cultural identity and reduce reliance on French, the language of its colonial past.
Hausa, spoken by a significant portion of the population, is particularly prevalent in the regions of Zinder, Maradi, and Tahoua.
The language is understood and spoken by a large majority of the country’s 26 million people, contrasting sharply with French, which is spoken by only about 13 percent of Nigeriens — approximately three million people.
The new charter also officially recognises nine other local languages, including Zarma-Songhay, Fula, Kanuri, Gourmanche, and Arabic, marking them as integral components of Niger’s national identity.
This decision comes after a national conference held in February, which strengthened the junta’s control and granted General Abdourahamane Tchiani, leader of the military regime, a mandate to remain in power for another five years.
Since coming to power in a coup in July 2023 that ousted civilian president Mohamed Bazoum, the military government has taken decisive steps to distance itself from France.
This includes severing diplomatic ties with Paris, expelling French troops, and renaming streets and landmarks that previously bore French names.
Niger’s new stance on language is in line with similar moves made by neighbouring military governments in Mali and Burkina Faso, which also distanced themselves from France following their own coups.
Both countries have withdrawn from the Organisation Internationale de la Francophonie (OIF), a post-colonial body that includes former French colonies.
