Niger Adopts Hausa as National Language, Replacing French

New Charter Declares Hausa as Official Language

The military government of Niger has announced the adoption of Hausa as the country’s national language, replacing French. The change was formalized in a new charter released on March 31, which states: “The national language is Hausa”, while English and French remain working languages.

Decision Follows National Conference

This linguistic shift comes after a February national conference that reinforced the authority of the ruling junta led by Abdourahamane Tchiani, extending their governance for the next five years. The conference also recognized nine other indigenous languages as “spoken languages of Niger,” including:

• Zarma-Songhay
• Fula
• Kanuri
• Gourmanche
• Arabic

Hausa: The Dominant Language

With approximately 26 million speakers, Hausa is Niger’s most widely spoken language, particularly prevalent in the central-southern regions of Zinder and Maradi, as well as Tahoua in the west. In contrast, French is spoken by only about 13% of the population—just over three million people.

Breaking Colonial Ties

The junta’s decision to elevate Hausa represents a significant cultural shift away from France, with whom Niger has maintained a complex relationship since independence. This move is part of a broader effort to sever colonial-era connections, including:

• Withdrawal of French troops
• Termination of diplomatic relations
• Renaming of French-associated streets and monuments

Regional Trend Against Francophone Influence

Niger joins neighboring former French colonies Mali and Burkina Faso in distancing itself from French influence. All three nations have withdrawn from the Organisation Internationale de la Francophonie (OIF), a post-colonial organization similar to the Commonwealth.