Niger Officially Adopts Hausa as National Language, Replacing French.
By Raymond Enoch
Niamey, Niger – In a groundbreaking move that signals Niger’s intent to break free from its colonial past, the country’s military-led government has officially replaced French with Hausa as the national language. This historic decision was made public in a new charter released on March 31, 2025, and published in a special edition of the government’s official journal.
The charter, which establishes Hausa as the national language, also designates English and French as working languages, ensuring that Niger remains engaged in international discourse while asserting its national identity. Hausa is already the most widely spoken language in Niger, with a vast majority of the population, around 26 million citizens, fluent in it. This is in contrast to French, which is only understood by approximately 13% of the population, or around 3 million people.
This linguistic shift is a direct response to Niger’s military junta’s broader strategy of reclaiming national sovereignty and diminishing French influence, following the 2023 coup that ousted President Mohamed Bazoum. Since the coup, the junta has taken various measures to sever ties with France, including expelling French military forces, cutting diplomatic relations, and renaming streets and buildings previously associated with French colonial rule.
The new charter also recognizes nine other local languages, including Zarma-Songhay, Fula, Kanuri, Gourmanché, and Arabic, as the spoken languages of Niger, a move that further bolsters the country’s cultural identity. This decision brings Niger in line with other West African nations like Mali and Burkina Faso, which have also distanced themselves from French colonial influence by promoting indigenous languages and withdrawing from the Organisation Internationale de la Francophonie (OIF).
This policy shift follows a national conference held in February, which solidified the junta’s authority and granted General Abdourahamane Tiani a five-year mandate to remain in power. The move is seen by many as a significant step in the country’s journey toward decolonization and reaffirming its independence from former colonial powers.
Observers view this development as part of a broader trend in Africa, where former colonies are increasingly asserting their own identities and distancing themselves from lingering colonial legacies. The adoption of Hausa as the national language is not only a cultural victory for Niger, but also a symbolic gesture of reclaiming power over its own future.
As Niger continues to chart its path forward, the move to embrace Hausa underscores the country’s commitment to its indigenous heritage while asserting its independence on the global stage.
Raymond Enoch is a journalist based in Abuja Nigeria. We writes on African politics, culture, and social movements. He has covered significant political transitions across the continent and regularly writes on issues surrounding, regional Cooperation and Integration, Promoting Governance, Security, decolonization and national identity.
