Africa

Flag of Senegal

Senegal is located on the westernmost tip of the African mainland and is one of West Africa's most stable and long-standing democracies. Known as the 'Gateway to Africa,' its capital Dakar was historically the administrative capital of French West Africa. Senegal's culture is celebrated for its traditional wrestling, its rich griot oral historian tradition, and internationally renowned artists like Youssou N'Dour.

CapitalDakar
RegionAfrica
Current flag since1960
Main coloursGreen, Yellow, Red
Populationabout 17 million
Areaabout 197,000 km²
Flags in history4

Population and area are rounded.

What the flag of Senegal means

Senegal uses the Pan-African colours: green for hope and the faith of the people, yellow for wealth and the arts, and red for life and the struggle for independence. The green star stands for unity and hope. The design comes from the flag of the short-lived Mali Federation of 1959–1960, which carried a kanaga figure where the star is now.

More about the flag

Senegal became independent on 20 August 1960 when the Mali Federation broke up, and replaced the federation's kanaga figure with a green star. Its capital, Dakar, is the westernmost city on the African mainland. The country's national symbol is the lion, and its football team, the Lions of Teranga, wears the flag's colours.

How to recognise it

Vertical green-yellow-red with a green star in the yellow centre band.

Did you know?

Dakar, Senegal's capital, was the finish line of the famous Paris-Dakar Rally for nearly 30 years.

Easily confused with

Senegal's flag is often mixed up with these. Learn to tell them apart:

Mali

Guinea

Gambia

Flag history of Senegal

Every flag that has flown over Senegal, from today back through time.

1960–present

Flag of Senegal

On full independence in 1960 after the Mali Federation broke up, Senegal kept the vertical green-yellow-red tricolour but replaced the central figure with a green five-pointed star for unity and hope.

1959–1960

Mali Federation

When Senegal united with French Sudan in 1959, it flew a green-yellow-red tricolour bearing a black kanaga — a human figure derived from Dogon culture and the Negritude movement.

1958–1959

Autonomous Republic

As an autonomous republic within the French Community in 1958, Senegal used a green-yellow-red tricolour with a green star, close to its modern flag, before joining the Mali Federation.

1549–1879

Cayor Kingdom

A powerful Wolof kingdom on the Senegalese coast that long resisted French expansion before falling in the 19th century.

Related historical states

Empires, kingdoms and republics that once covered part of Senegal.

1959–1960

Mali Federation

A brief union of Senegal and French Sudan, its green-yellow-red flag bore a black 'kanaga' human figure. After Senegal withdrew in months, French Sudan kept the name Mali and dropped the figure.