Nauru officially reclaims traditional name as Republic of Naoero
Parliament approved a constitutional amendment in May; the president says a referendum is unnecessary because Naoero is already the people's identity.
Nauru has officially restored its traditional name and will henceforth be known as the Republic of Naoero, the government announced after a constitutional amendment passed by parliament in May. President David Adeang also confirmed that plans for a nationwide referendum on the change have been dropped.
"The decision not to hold a referendum was made after careful consideration, because Naoero is not a new name that needs to gain the people's support. It is already the identity of our people, it appears on the national coat of arms, it is used in everyday speech and is permitted by the Constitution," Adeang said.
Under the new provisions, the country's short official name will be Naoero and its citizens will be referred to as dei-Naoero. The government has informed international organisations and other states about the change, and a transition process is currently underway.
Historical background and size
The name Nauru originated during the period of European colonisation, when the indigenous name Naoero was altered because colonisers had difficulty pronouncing it. With roughly 12,000 inhabitants, Naoero is the third-smallest sovereign state in the world after the Vatican and Monaco.
The native language, known as Dorerin Naoero, is classified by UNESCO as "seriously endangered." Although it is still spoken among the population, it has not been part of the formal school curriculum. Last year the government adopted a law stipulating that the language will be included in future education programmes.
Adeang emphasised that the name change is not a political manoeuvre but an effort to protect national heritage. "This is an attempt to preserve the heritage of our ancestors and at the same time strengthen the future of our children," he said.
Photo: Aleksey Butenkov / Alamy / Alamy / Profimedia
