Flag of Senegal

Meaning and history of the flag of Senegal

The flag of Senegal consists of three equal vertical stripes of green, yellow, and red, with a green five-pointed star at the center of the yellow stripe. It is one of many designs across the continent to use the pan-African colors, reflecting both African cultural heritage and the legacy of independence from France.

It was adopted on August 20, 1960, at independence. Green represents Islam, the country's majority religion, along with hope and the fertility of the land; yellow symbolizes wealth, culture, and the fruits of labor; and red embodies the nation's sacrifice and the vitality of its people. The green star is known as the "Star of African Unity" and points skyward as a symbol of aspiration. The flag is nearly identical to that of Mali, which replaces the star with a stylized human figure known as the kanaga; before 1961 both countries shared the same flag as part of the Mali Federation.

You can view the flag of Senegal in high resolution above and download it in several sizes for personal, educational or reference use. To explore more, visit the full Senegal profile, its map, or the current local time in Dakar.