Mali Flag

The flag of Mali has three equal sized vertical stripes. The left side of the flag is green. The middle is yellow. The right side of the flag is red.

What does Mali’s flag mean? The green stripe represents hope, nature and fertility of the land. The yellow symbolizes purity and mineral wealth and the red stripe symbolizes strength and the blood spilt for independence.

What does Mali’s flag stand for? The Mali’s flag was enacted on March 1, 1961. Mali was granted independence from France on September 22, 1960. The first flag of Mali was created on April 4, 1959, when the French Sudan and Senegal created the Mali Federation. Senegal removed itself from the federation in August, 1960 and as a result the flag was modified in 1961. The flag of Senegal has similar characteristics to Mali's except that Senegal’s flag has a star in the center of it. The flags used the French flag as modeled inserting the Pan African colors. These colors were also representative of the African Democratic Rally which was the political party who sponsored the fight for independence for Mali. The Mali flag can be flown both nationally and civilly by its citizens.

The original flag was enacted on April 4; 1959.On the original design of the Mali flag was a stylized human figure in black with its arms raised to the sky on the center yellow stripe. This figure was known as a kanaga. In 1961, due to Islamic pressure Mali removed the kanaga figure because of Islamic views on having human type images represented. Mali is about ninety percent Muslim. So, now the flag just has the plain tri color that individuals see today.

Medieval Mali was one of the world’s wealthiest powers. During Emperor Mansa Musa reign in the fourteenth century, Islam was introduced, and Timbuktu was developed as an excellent center of learning and of the Trans Saharan trade. In 1893 it became a part of the French Sudan. In 1960, Mali was a one party state under President Modibo Keita. In 1968, Moussa Traore created a military coup d’etat and over threw Keita. In 1992, Mali’s rule was returned to civilian hands under the leadership of Alpha Konare.

Info on Mali’s flag can be found on various websites on the internet.