Niger’s military government has officially replaced French with Hausa as the country’s national language, marking a decisive break from its colonial past. The policy change, published in an official gazette on March 31, designates Hausa – spoken by the majority of Niger’s 26 million citizens – as the primary language while demoting French to a working language alongside English.
The linguistic overhaul follows months of anti-French measures since the July 2023 coup, including the expulsion of French troops and renaming of colonial-era landmarks. Military leader General Abdourahamane Tiani consolidated this nationalist agenda after February’s national conference extended his rule for five years.
Nine indigenous languages including Zarma-Songhay and Arabic received formal recognition as “spoken languages of Niger.” The move aligns Niger with neighboring Mali and Burkina Faso – fellow junta-led states that have abandoned Francophone institutions while forging new regional alliances.
Language experts note the transition poses logistical challenges, as French remains dominant in government and education despite being spoken by just 13% of Nigeriens. The policy signals Africa’s accelerating decolonization efforts, with Hausa joining Swahili and Arabic as post-colonial lingua francas gaining official status across the continent.
