La perception de soi et de l’autre dans les discours des présidents Kountché, Ousmane et Issoufou : pour une histoire du nous au Niger.

This article proposes to explore the dynamics related to identity and otherness through a pragmatic analysis of the use of the French pronoun «nous» in the political speeches of Nigerian presidents. The study aims to highlight the boundaries of identity (ingroup) and the values associated with the group’s belonging which, by contrast, shape the outer group (outgroup). Based on a qualitative approach, the article examines the functions of the pronoun «nous» in its inclusiveness and exclusiveness dimension, to understand its role in the construction of the relationships between Nigerian managers, their fellow citizens and their opponents. To this end, the analysis focuses on the speeches of the President Seyni Kountché (1974), Mahamane Ousmane (1993) et Mahamadou Issoufou (2011). It reveals how the pronoun «nous» becomes a vehicle of ingroup and outgroup representations. Kountché’s regime stands out for its use of «nous» that recriminates against the others while Ousmane’s speech, the first democratically elected president, argues in favor of inclusivity and respect of the opponents. Issoufou, on his side, evokes «nous» to transform Nigerian population as a barrier against terrorism, which is the main challenge of his mandate.