“The national language is Hausa” while “the working languages are English and French,” the junta stated in a new charter published on March 31 in a special edition of the government’s official journal.
Niger’s military government has declared Hausa the national language, replacing French in a significant move away from colonial influence. The junta’s March 31 charter states: “The national language is Hausa,” while designating French and English as working languages. Hausa, spoken widely across Zinder, Maradi and Tahoua regions, is understood by most of Niger’s 26 million people, compared to French which only 13% speak.
The new policy also recognizes nine indigenous languages – including Zarma-Songhay, Fula and Arabic – as official spoken languages. This linguistic shift follows growing anti-French sentiment since the 2023 coup, with the junta progressively severing ties with former colonial power France.
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