Sierra Leone

Sierra Leone
Adopted	April 27, 1961
Proportions	2:3

The flag of Sierra Leone is an equal horizontal tricolour of green, white, and blue.

Symbolism

colour	symbolism
green	agriculture, Sierra Leonean landscape
white	justice, unity
blue	Atlantic Ocean, Freetown Harbor

History

Until 1961, Sierra Leone was a colony and/or protectorate of the United Kingdom, so its' first flag was a Blue Ensign with the protectorate's emblem in the center. The colony's emblem consisted of an elephant in the African Landscape, with the country's initials in red at the bottom. In 1914, the colony was granted its' own coat of arms, and in 1916, the emblem on the flag was changed.

Sierra Leone Colony and Protectorate (1889-1916)

Sierra Leone Colony and Protectorate (1916-1961)

In 1961, Sierra Leone was granted independence, and adopted a new flag and coat of arms approved by the College of Arms. It was first hoisted on midnight of April 27, the day the country got its' independence.

Trivia

• If this flag was darkened and turned upside-down, it would become the flag of Cordoba, Colombia.
• If you turn the flag upside-down, and added a white star on the blue bar, it would become the flag of Puntland.