Niger Republic has announced it is dropping French as its official language, choosing Hausa instead in a bold move to embrace local heritage and assert national identity.

In a historic move to distance itself from its colonial roots, Niger Republic has officially swapped French for Hausa as the country’s national language. The decision was officially confirmed in a new charter released on March 31, which was published in a special edition of the government’s official journal. 

Although English and French are still recognized as working languages, the elevation of Hausa represents a pivotal cultural and political change. Hausa is spoken extensively across Niger, especially in the Zinder, Maradi, and Tahoua regions. It is the primary or secondary language for the majority of the country’s 26 million people.

In contrast, only around three million people—about 13% of the population—speak French, a leftover from Niger's colonial era.

The new charter also recognizes other important local languages, including Zarma-Songhay, Fula, Kanuri, Gourmanche, and Arabic, underscoring Niger's linguistic diversity.

Experts see this shift as part of a larger effort by Niger’s military-led government to assert greater national sovereignty and reduce dependence on Western powers.

This decision is likely to shape education, governance, and media in the coming years as the country moves forward with this bold linguistic change.