thumb|Gambian flag on [[Kunta Kinteh Island]]

The national flag of The Gambia consists of three horizontal red, blue and green bands separated by two thin white stripes. Adopted in 1965 to replace the British Blue Ensign defaced with the arms of the Gambia Colony and Protectorate, it has been the flag of the Republic of the Gambia since the country gained independence that year. It remained unchanged throughout the Gambia's seven-year confederation with Senegal.

History

The British first arrived in what is now modern-day Gambia in 1661, when they conquered James Island. They built forts around the confluence of the Gambia River with the Atlantic Ocean, and gradually expanded their control upstream. This area became a protectorate in the 1820s under the jurisdiction of Sierra Leone, and eventually emerged as a separate crown colony of the United Kingdom within its colonial empire in 1888. This newfound status gave the Gambia its own "distinctive" colonial flag. This is because colonies were permitted to utilize the British Blue Ensign and deface it with the arms of the territory under the Colonial Naval Defence Act 1865. The arms of the Gambia at the time consisted of a circle depicting an elephant, a palm tree and hills, along with the letter "G" standing for the first letter of the territory's name. It is one of the few African flags that does not utilize the colors of the country's leading political party, since its design "has no political basis". It was first hoisted at midnight on February 18, 1965, the day the Gambia became an independent country. In 1982, the Gambia formed a confederation with Senegal, which lasted for seven years before its dissolution in 1989. while the thin white stripes represent "unity and peace". It was labelled a "Gambia coalition", because the colors of the three political parties are identical to the ones on the flag of the Gambia – red (LSAP), blue (DP) and Green (The Greens).

Military flags and ensigns

Military flags and ensigns of the Gambia are following British practice but different from British military flags and ensigns.

See also

  • Coat of arms of the Gambia
  • List of Gambian flags
  • Flags of Africa

References

Footnotes

Bibliography

  • Gambia Flag at World Flags 101