Breaking: Niger Republic Drops French, Embraces Hausa As National Identity Rises

Breaking: Niger Republic Drops French, Embraces Hausa As National Identity Rises

In a bold move to cut ties with its colonial past, the military-led government of Niger Republic has officially declared Hausa as the country’s new national language, replacing French, which has long served as the nation’s primary official language……..READ MORE 

Ireporter reports that this major change was announced in a government charter released on March 31 and published in a special edition of the state’s official journal.

According to the document, “The national language is Hausa,” while English and French have now been relegated to the status of “working languages.”

This decision reflects the reality on the ground, as Hausa is widely spoken across Niger — especially in regions like Zinder, Maradi, and Tahoua — and understood by a large majority of the country’s estimated 26 million citizens. In contrast, only about 13% (roughly 3 million people) speak French fluently.

The new charter also recognizes nine other indigenous languages — including Zarma-Songhay, Fula, Kanuri, Gourmanche, and Arabic — as part of Niger’s linguistic heritage and labels them “spoken languages of Niger.”

Additionally, the Nigerien government has officially withdrawn from the Organisation Internationale de la Francophonie (OIF), a body that promotes French language and culture worldwide, much like the Commonwealth does for English-speaking nations.

This move follows growing tensions with France and the expulsion of French troops from Niger in December 2023.

French President Emmanuel Macron, in response to the rising anti-French sentiment in the Sahel region, criticized African leaders for what he described as “a lack of gratitude,” saying France had sacrificed lives to help these countries combat terrorism.

Macron stated:

“Ungratefulness, I know too well, is a disease. None of them would be sovereign today if the French army hadn’t intervened. We left because of coups and shifting goals. France had no place there anymore.”

This language shift marks a significant turn in Niger’s post-colonial history and sends a clear message: the country is asserting its sovereignty and cultural identity.