By Ghazali Ibrahim 
In a significant move to distance itself from its colonial past, Niger’s military government has declared Hausa as the country’s new national language.
The change was announced in a new charter released on March 31, which also designated English and French as working languages.
The decision is seen as a major step towards promoting local languages and reducing the influence of French, which was inherited from the country’s colonial past.
Hausa is the most widely spoken language in Niger, with around 26 million people understanding and speaking it, while only 13% of the population, approximately 3 million people, can speak French.
The new charter also recognizes nine other local languages as “spoken languages of Niger”, including Zarma-Songhay, Fula, Kanuri, Gourmanche, and Arabic.
This move is seen as an effort to promote linguistic diversity and inclusivity in the country.
The language switch follows a national meeting held in February, where the military government received increased support and General Abdourahamane Tiani, the junta leader, was given approval to stay in power for five more years.
Since taking over in a coup in July 2023, the junta has been cutting off ties with France, including removing French troops from the country, ending diplomatic relations, and changing the names of roads and buildings that used to carry French names.
Niger’s move is in line with similar steps taken by neighboring countries Mali and Burkina Faso, which have also pulled out of the Organisation Internationale de la Francophonie, a group supporting French-speaking nations.
The three countries, all former French colonies, are seeking to reduce their dependence on France and promote their own languages and cultures.
The change is seen as a significant step towards decolonization and promoting African languages and cultures.
However, it remains to be seen how the change will be implemented and what implications it will have for the country’s relations with France and other international partners.
