Which Nilo-Saharan languages have been endangered by language shift?

At the beginning of the 21st century, several Nilo-Saharan languages faced endangerment due to language shift, a process where speakers adopt other primary languages for daily communication. This trend is particularly evident among ethnic groups with fewer than 1,000 speakers.1

Specific languages affected by this shift include:

• Nyang’i (Uganda): A Kuliak language.1
• Kwegu (Ethiopia): A Surmic language.1
• Okiek (Kenya): A Nilotic language.1
• Maban languages (Chad): Including Masalit, these are under pressure from Arabic, which serves as a prestigious language of education and a regional lingua franca.1
• Nile Nubian varieties (Egypt): Kenuz and Fadicca speakers experienced a decline in language competence following forced relocation due to the construction of the Aswan High Dam, leading to increased contact with Arabic.1

Additionally, the Komuz language Gule (or Anej) of Sudan is now extinct, with its former speakers having shifted to Arabic. While these shifts pose significant challenges, the majority of the more than 100 Nilo-Saharan languages continue to thrive as vital means of communication.1