- Safiu Kehinde
Niger Republic has further severed ties with France as it officially made Hausa the country’s new national language in replacement of French.
This was announced in a new charter released on the 31st of March by the Niger military government.
According to report , the document published in a special edition of the government’s official journal declared that “The national language is Hausa,” and “the working languages are English and French.”
Also officially listed in the new charter as the spoken languages of Niger were nine other local languages which include Zarma-Songhay, Fula, Kanuri, Gourmanche.
Meanwhile, most of the country’s population of about 26 million people understand and speak Hausa.
In contrast, only around three million people (13 per cent) can speak French.
The Niger military leader, Mohamed Bazoum, had since the July 2023 coup which ousted the civilian government, been cutting off ties with France.
Prior to the change of the national language, the military junta had removed French troops from the country, ending diplomatic relations, and changing the names of roads and buildings that used to carry French names.