🇲🇷 The colours of Mauritania

Mauritania’s flag uses green, gold, and red. Green and the star and crescent show the country’s Islamic identity, while red was added in 2017 to honour those who died for independence. These colours are also linked to pan-African unity.

Where no official value is given, the swatch shows the colour family, not the exact shade.

• Red stripes were added to the flag in 2017 after a public vote.
• Green, gold, and red are all considered pan-African colours.
• The star and crescent are traditional Islamic symbols.
• Exact colour codes and proportions are set by law.
• Disrespecting the flag is a criminal offence in Mauritania.

The colours of the flag of Mauritania

The Mauritanian flag features a green background, two red stripes at the top and bottom, and a gold star and crescent in the centre. Green, along with the star and crescent, is a symbol of Islam, which is the main religion in the country. The red stripes were introduced in 2017 to represent the sacrifice of those who fought for Mauritania’s independence. All three colours—green, gold, and red—are also recognised as pan-African colours, linking Mauritania to a broader African identity. These meanings are officially stated in government sources.

How the colours were chosen of Mauritania

Mauritania’s first national flag was adopted in 1959, soon after the end of French colonial rule. That flag had only a green field with a gold star and crescent. In 2016, a government dialogue proposed adding red to the flag to symbolise the fight for independence. After a referendum in 2017, the red bands were officially added, and the new design was first raised on the anniversary of independence. The flag’s design was further standardised in 2020 with detailed government guidelines.

Official shades and rules of Mauritania

The flag’s proportions are set at a 2:3 ratio. Each red band is one-fifth of the flag’s width, while the green field is three-fifths. The star and crescent are placed in the centre, with the crescent’s curve facing downward and the star positioned horizontally. Official documents specify the exact colour values in hex, CMYK, and RGB. The guidelines also cover how to display the flag and minimum sizes for reproduction.