Niger’s military-led government has officially declared Hausa as the country’s new national language, replacing French in a significant departure from its colonial past.
According to a new charter published on March 31 in a special edition of the government’s official journal, “The national language is Hausa,” while “the working languages are English and French.
Hausa is the most widely spoken language in Niger, especially in the regions of Zinder, Maradi, and Tahoua. It is understood and spoken by a large portion of the country’s 26 million citizens. In contrast, French is spoken by only about 13 percent of the population—approximately three million people.
According to a new charter published on March 31 in a special edition of the government’s official journal, “The national language is Hausa,” while “the working languages are English and French.
Hausa is the most widely spoken language in Niger, especially in the regions of Zinder, Maradi, and Tahoua. It is understood and spoken by a large portion of the country’s 26 million citizens. In contrast, French is spoken by only about 13 percent of the population—approximately three million people.