Niger Republic military junta jettisons French, adopts Hausa as national language

Niger Republic’s military government has made a significant move to distance itself from its colonial past by adopting Hausa as the country’s new national language, replacing French.

This decision is part of a broader effort to cut ties with France, including expelling French troops, renaming streets and landmarks, and cutting diplomatic ties with Paris.

Persecondnews recalls that since seizing power in July 2023, which ousted the country’s civilian president, Mohamed Bazoum, Niger’s junta has been severing ties with France.

Niger withdrawn from the Organisation Internationale de la Francophonie (OIF), an international organization that promotes cooperation among French-speaking countries, similar to the Commonwealth.

The adoption of Hausa as the new national language was formally announced in a new charter released on March 31, which was published in a special edition of the government’s official journal.

According to the document, “the national language is Hausa,” and “the working languages are English and French.”

Hausa is the most widely spoken language in Niger, particularly in the regions of Zinder, Maradi, and Tahoua, where it serves as a lingua franca for millions of people.

While Hausa is widely spoken by the vast majority of Niger’s 26 million people, French is only spoken by a relatively small minority of around 3 million, or 13% of the population.

The new charter also officially lists nine other local languages, including Zarma-Songhay, Fula, Kanuri, Gourmanche, and Arabic, as “the spoken languages of Niger.”

The decision to switch languages comes on the heels of a national meeting held in February.

The meeting bolstered the military government’s support, and Gen. Abdourahamane Tiani, the junta leader, received approval to extend his rule for an additional five years.

Persecondnews reports that on July 26, 2023, President Bazoum was detained by the presidential guard, and Gen. Tchiani subsequently declared himself leader of a new military junta.

The coup marked the fifth military coup in Niger since gaining independence from France in 1960.

It was sparked by rising costs of living, security concerns, and a power struggle between Bazoum and Tchiani.

The international community widely condemned the coup, with ECOWAS threatening military intervention, the African Union suspending Niger, and the US and France withdrawing financial and military aid.