North Macedonia removes Albanian language from new road signs

Skopje, September 14, 2024 - New road signs near the Bllacë border crossing in North Macedonia could tensions after authorities excluded the Albanian language. The signs, written in Macedonian, English, and French, were installed along the first two kilometers of the Bllacë-Skopje highway.

The move has raised concerns among the Albanian-speaking population, who make up roughly a quarter of the country’s residents. The signs, which say “Republic of North Macedonia” and “Welcome to the Republic of North Macedonia,” were put up by the Department of Public Roads. In a controversial decision, the department has also begun removing Albanian from other road signs it manages across the country.

This development follows recent actions by the VMRO-VLEN-ZNAM-led government, which critics accuse of attempting to minimize the use of Albanian in public life. The government’s efforts to curtail the use of the Albanian language have culminated in proposed amendments to the Law on the Implementation of Languages. The country’s Constitutional Court is expected to review these proposed changes in an upcoming meeting.

The road sign issue is part of a wider debate about the role of the Albanian language in public institutions, a topic that has become increasingly polarized since the formation of the current government.