Niger Replaces French with Hausa as National Language

• Apr 09, 2025

Niger's military-led government has officially adopted Hausa as the country’s national language, replacing French. The decision marks a major shift away from its colonial past. A new charter, published on March 31 in the government's official journal, declared Hausa as the national language, while maintaining French and English as the working languages.

Hausa, the most widely spoken language in Niger, is particularly common in the regions of Zinder, Maradi, and Tahoua. It is understood by a large portion of the country’s population of 26 million people. In contrast, French is spoken by only around 13% of the population, or about three million people. The charter also acknowledges nine other local languages, including Zarma-Songhay, Fula, Kanuri, Gourmanche, and Arabic, as important spoken languages of the country.

This decision follows a national conference held in February, which strengthened the authority of the ruling military junta. During the conference, General Abdourahamane Tiani, who led the July 2023 coup that ousted civilian president Mohamed Bazoum, was granted a mandate to stay in power for another five years.

Since seizing power, the junta has been distancing Niger from France. Actions such as expelling French troops, cutting diplomatic ties, and renaming streets and landmarks that once honored French figures have underscored this shift. The move to adopt Hausa as the national language reflects the junta’s broader strategy of reducing French influence in the country.

Niger’s decision also aligns with a regional trend among neighboring countries like Mali and Burkina Faso, which have also adopted military regimes and taken similar steps to distance themselves from France. These countries have even withdrawn from the Organisation Internationale de la Francophonie (OIF), a group of French-speaking nations.