Niger dumps French, adopts Hausa as national language

Niger military government has officially made Hausa the country’s new national language, moving away from its colonial past where French played a central role.

The change was announced in a new charter released on March 31, published in a special edition of the government’s official journal.

According to the document, “The national language is Hausa,” and “the working languages are English and French.”

Hausa is already the most commonly spoken language across Niger, especially in the Zinder, Maradi, and Tahoua regions.

Most of the country’s population of about 26 million people understand and speak Hausa. In comparison, only around three million people, just 13 per cent, can speak French.

The new charter also officially lists nine other local languages, including Zarma-Songhay, Fula, Kanuri, Gourmanche, and Arabic, as “the spoken languages of Niger.”

This language switch follows a national meeting held in February.

During that event, the military government received more 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, which removed the country’s civilian president, Mohamed Bazoum, the junta has been cutting off ties with France.

These actions include removing French troops from the country, ending diplomatic relations, and changing the names of roads and buildings that used to carry French names.

Like Niger, Mali and Burkina Faso, which also have military governments and used to be French colonies, are taking similar steps.

They’ve also pulled out of the Organisation Internationale de la Francophonie, a group similar to the Commonwealth that supports French-speaking nations.

Military ties severed

France completed the withdrawal of its troops after they were asked to leave Niger by the country’s new junta, ending years of on-the-ground military support and raising concerns from analysts about a gap in the fight against jihadi violence across the Sahel region of Africa.

France had already announced that it would close its diplomatic mission in Niger for an indefinite period.

Niger’s junta described the end of military cooperation with France as the start of “a new era” for Nigeriens. “Niger stands tall, and the security of our homeland will no longer depend on a foreign presence,” the junta stated via X, formerly known as Twitter.

Analysts say a vacuum will be created by the troops’ departure. It will “leave Niger and the entire Sahel worse off” in terms of overall counterterrorism efforts, according to Ryan Cummings, director of Africa-focused security consulting company Signal Risk.

Some 1,500 French troops were training and supporting the local military in Niger, which had been envisioned as the base for counterterrorism operations in the region after anti-French sentiment grew in Mali and Burkina Faso.

The withdrawal of foreign military missions is already affecting security in Niger, where the number of attacks has surged.

The country has not demonstrated sufficient military capabilities to fill the vacuum created by the withdrawal, according to Oluwole Ojewale with the Dakar-based Institute for Security Studies.

The junta in Niger has formed a security alliance with the military governments in Mali and Burkina Faso to coordinate counterterrorism operations across the Sahel.

About Hausa

The Hausa language is a Chadic language spoken by the Hausa people, who are one of the largest ethnic groups in West Africa. The language is widely spoken in Nigeria, Niger, Ghana, Benin, and other parts of West Africa.

Hausa is a tonal language, meaning that the pitch or tone used to pronounce a word affects its meaning. It has a complex grammar system and a distinctive writing system based on the Arabic script.

The Hausa language has a rich cultural and literary heritage, with a long history of poetry, storytelling, and oral tradition. Many Hausa people are fluent in multiple languages, including English, French, and other local languages.

Some interesting facts about the Hausa language include:

– Hausa is one of the most widely spoken languages in Africa, with over 50 million speakers.
– The language has a significant influence on other languages in the region, including Nigerian Pidgin and other local languages.
– Hausa is an official language in Nigeria, along with English.

Overall, the Hausa language plays an important role in the cultural and economic life of West Africa, and its study can provide valuable insights into the region’s history, culture, and people.

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