The Flag of Burkina Faso

The flag of Burkina Faso consists of two horizontal bands of red and green, with a yellow five-pointed star resting in the center. The red symbolizes the revolution, green represents the country’s natural wealth, and the yellow star signifies the guiding light of the revolution.

The Flag of Burkina Faso

History of The Flag of Burkina Faso

Adopted on August 4, 1984, following the coup d'état that brought Thomas Sankara to power, the flag of Burkina Faso was designed to represent a break from the country's colonial past and a new direction towards socialism and unity. The flag's colors are pan-African, which are used by several other African countries to symbolize solidarity among African nations. The introduction of the flag was part of a broader move to rename the country from the Republic of Upper Volta to Burkina Faso, which means 'the land of upright people' in Mossi and Dioula, the two major languages of the country. This change was indicative of Sankara's vision for a self-reliant and independent Burkina Faso, free from foreign influence and corruption.