10th April 2025, NewsOrient, News, Governance And Development, Law And Society, Culture, Lifestyle
•Photo Caption: Niger Republic Military Leader, General Abdourahamane Tiani
Posted By Samuel Egburonu, Editor

The military government of Niger Republic has officially adopted Hausa as the country’s new national language and has thus dropped French, it’s colonial heritage, which used to be it’s national language.

The country however recognized English and French as it’s ‘working languages.’

This change was announced in a new Charter released on March 31, 2025, 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.”

It is on record that Hausa is already the most commonly spoken language across Niger, especially in the Zinder, Maradi, and Tahoua regions.

Most of the country’s population of about 26 million people understand and speak Hausa. In comparison, only around three million people, just 13 per cent, can speak French.

Some media reports said that the new charter also officially listed nine other local languages, including Zarma-Songhay, Fula, Kanuri, Gourmanche, and Arabic, as “the spoken languages of Niger.”

A report in Century Media said “during that event, the military government received more support and General Abdourahamane Tiani, the junta leader, was approved to stay in power for five more years.”

Reports say since taking over in a coup in July 2023, which removed the country’s civilian President, Mohamed Bazoum, the new military government in Niger has been cutting off ties with France.

These actions include removing French troops from the country, ending diplomatic relations, and changing the names of roads and buildings that used to carry French names.”

NewsOrient reports that just like Niger, fellow West African countries like Mali and Burkina Faso, which also have new military governments and which used to be French colonies, are today taking similar bold steps to remove or adjust their colonial French dependence.

Perhaps, the boldest of such actions they have taken so far include pulling out of the Organisation Internationale de la Francophonie, a group similar to the Commonwealth which supports French-speaking countries.

With the removal of French as the national language of Niger Republic and adoption of Hause in it’s stead, it remains to be seen if the other West African countries will follow suit.

~ Published By NewsOrient Network

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