Flag of Guinea-Bissau

Flag origins

Guinea-Bissau’s flag has a red vertical band with a black five-pointed star at the hoist, beside yellow above green. It was adopted with the declaration of independence on September 24, 1973. Its Pan-African colors represent blood shed in the struggle, sunshine and national wealth or agriculture, and forests, farming and hope. The Black Star represents African people and unity. Yellow and green are also associated geographically with northern savanna and southern forests.

Flag story

The flag closely follows that of the PAIGC, the African Party for the Independence of Guinea and Cape Verde. Founded in 1956, it sought independence for the two Portuguese territories and eventual union. Its party flag differed mainly by the letters PAIGC beneath the star, removed for the national flag. Cabo Verde likewise adopted a similar flag after independence in 1975 because of the union project. A coup in Guinea-Bissau in 1980 effectively ended those plans; Cabo Verde changed to its predominantly blue flag in 1992.

Editorial notes and references

Edited by ABELHA WORKS. The English text translates the administrator-edited Japanese description. Legends should be distinguished from documented history. General reference links do not substantiate every statement in the text.

• Guinea-Bissau — general information on Wikipedia
• Japan MOFA: countries and regions (Japanese)

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