Senegal Flag

The national flag of Senegal is a tricolor featuring three vertical bands of equal width in the colors green, gold, and red. At the center of the gold band is a five-pointed green star, which is a distinctive and unifying national symbol. The flag's design is a direct descendant of the French Tricolore, reflecting the country's historical ties, while its colors and central star establish a uniquely Senegalese identity.

Adopted shortly after gaining independence, the flag's pan-African colors connect it to a broader continental movement and ideology. The simple yet bold layout ensures high visibility and easy recognition, making it a powerful emblem of sovereignty. Its proportions and construction follow a clear, standardized formula that is consistently applied in official use.

The green vertical band at the hoist symbolizes hope and the majority Muslim faith of the population, as well as the country's agricultural wealth. The central gold (or yellow) band represents wealth and the fruits of labor, signifying the nation's pursuit of progress and enlightenment. The red band stands for sacrifice and the blood shed in the struggle for independence, as well as the collective life force of the people.

The five-pointed green star at the flag's heart is a multifaceted symbol, representing the heavens and spiritual openness. Its five points are commonly said to signify the five continents and the spread of Senegalese culture, as well as the guiding light of the nation. Together, the colors and star embody the national motto: 'Un Peuple, Un But, Une Foi' ('One People, One Goal, One Faith').

The flag was officially adopted on August 20, 1960, following Senegal's independence from the Mali Federation, a short-lived political union with the Sudanese Republic (now Mali). Its design was created by the then-Prime Minister and poet, Léopold Sédar Senghor, who would become the nation's first president. The flag replaced the earlier banner of the Mali Federation, which used a similar tricolor and a stylized human figure, known as the kanaga.

Prior to independence, Senegal used the French Tricolore as it was a colony of France. The transition to the current flag marked a definitive break from colonial rule and the establishment of a sovereign national identity. The removal of the kanaga symbol from the Mali Federation's flag and its replacement with the single green star was a key step in defining Senegal's unique symbolism.