Niger eliminates French as formal language
(MENAFN) Niger’s transitional government has officially removed French as the national language, replacing it with Hausa under a newly adopted national charter. While French will remain a “working language,” the change marks a symbolic shift away from the country's colonial ties with France.
Hausa, already the most widely spoken language in Niger, now holds national language status. The change is part of the Charter of Refoundation, a legal framework adopted after the July 2023 coup that ousted President Mohamed Bazoum. The 2010 Constitution has been suspended, and under the new charter, French and English are listed as working languages, while nine other local languages, including Zarma-Songhay, Fulfulde, Kanuri, and Arabic, are officially recognized as spoken languages.
The charter also extends the rule of interim leader General Abdourahamane Tchiani for up to five years.
This decision follows Niger’s withdrawal from the International Organization of Francophone Nations (OIF) in March, alongside Burkina Faso and Mali. The three Sahel nations, now united under the Alliance of Sahel States (AES), accused the OIF of political interference and failing to respect their sovereignty, especially after it suspended their memberships following military coups.
Relations between Niger and France have sharply deteriorated since the coup, with the transitional government ending military agreements with Paris. The military rulers criticized France for interfering in domestic affairs and for failing to combat jihadist threats in the Sahel.
Legal Disclaimer:
MENAFN provides the
information “as is” without warranty of any kind. We do not accept
any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images,
videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information
contained in this article. If you have any complaints or copyright
issues related to this article, kindly contact the provider above.
Legal Disclaimer:
EIN Presswire provides this news content "as is" without warranty of any kind. We do not accept any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information contained in this article. If you have any complaints or copyright issues related to this article, kindly contact the author above.
