Flag of Mauritania
Encyclopedia
The flag of Mauritania is the common name for the national flag
of Mauritania
in north-west Africa
. The flag
was adopted on April 1, 1959. It was introduced under the instructions of Moktar Ould Daddah
, and the subsequent constitution of 22 March 1959.
desert. The crescent and star are symbols of Islam
, which is the major religion in the nation. Some writers have also speculated that green symbolises a bright future, and growth. There is no official specification or construction sheet for the exact relative measurements of the star and crescent, although the flag's measurements are 2:3.
of 12 July 1991 specifies that:
Unlike the seal, the exact flag is specified, not merely the right for a law to specify it at some later date.
However, the flag has its official basis in the earlier constitution of 22 March 1959; no changes were made after the country's declaration of independence in 1960.
National flag
A national flag is a flag that symbolizes a country. The flag is flown by the government, but usually can also be flown by citizens of the country.Both public and private buildings such as schools and courthouses may fly the national flag...
of Mauritania
Mauritania
Mauritania is a country in the Maghreb and West Africa. It is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean in the west, by Western Sahara in the north, by Algeria in the northeast, by Mali in the east and southeast, and by Senegal in the southwest...
in north-west Africa
Africa
Africa is the world's second largest and second most populous continent, after Asia. At about 30.2 million km² including adjacent islands, it covers 6% of the Earth's total surface area and 20.4% of the total land area...
. The flag
Flag
A flag is a piece of fabric with a distinctive design that is usually rectangular and used as a symbol, as a signaling device, or decoration. The term flag is also used to refer to the graphic design employed by a flag, or to its depiction in another medium.The first flags were used to assist...
was adopted on April 1, 1959. It was introduced under the instructions of Moktar Ould Daddah
Moktar Ould Daddah
Moktar Ould Daddah was the President of Mauritania from 1960, when his country gained its independence from France, to 1978, when he was deposed in a military coup d'etat.- Background :...
, and the subsequent constitution of 22 March 1959.
Design
The colors of green and gold are considered Pan-African colors. Green is also used to symbolize Islam, and the gold for the sands of the SaharaSahara
The Sahara is the world's second largest desert, after Antarctica. At over , it covers most of Northern Africa, making it almost as large as Europe or the United States. The Sahara stretches from the Red Sea, including parts of the Mediterranean coasts, to the outskirts of the Atlantic Ocean...
desert. The crescent and star are symbols of Islam
Islam
Islam . The most common are and . : Arabic pronunciation varies regionally. The first vowel ranges from ~~. The second vowel ranges from ~~~...
, which is the major religion in the nation. Some writers have also speculated that green symbolises a bright future, and growth. There is no official specification or construction sheet for the exact relative measurements of the star and crescent, although the flag's measurements are 2:3.
Use
The design acts as the national flag of Mauritania, and is also used in circular form as an aircraft roundel.Legal basis
The current constitutionConstitution of Mauritania
The current Constitution of Mauritania was adopted on 12 July 1991. There have been several constitutions since Mauritania's independence in 1960.-Current constitution:...
of 12 July 1991 specifies that:
Unlike the seal, the exact flag is specified, not merely the right for a law to specify it at some later date.
However, the flag has its official basis in the earlier constitution of 22 March 1959; no changes were made after the country's declaration of independence in 1960.