Burkina Faso

3×5' nylon national flag of Burkina Faso.

Burkina Faso's flag arrived with a new name. On 4 August 1984 Thomas Sankara's revolutionary government renamed the Republic of Upper Volta "Burkina Faso," the land of upright people, and replaced its flag on the same day.

Design

Two equal horizontal bands, red over green, with a yellow five-pointed star centered across them.

History & Symbolism

Red stands for the revolution and the struggle of the people, green for the country's agricultural abundance, and the yellow star for the guiding light of the revolution and the nation's mineral wealth. The old Upper Volta flag of black, white and red stood for the three branches of the Volta River; the new colors joined Burkina Faso to the Pan-African palette.

Flag Specifications

• Adopted: 4 August 1984
• Official proportions: 2:3
• Colors: red, green, yellow
• Emblem: five-pointed star

Vexillographer's Note

Burkina Faso kept Sankara's flag after his death in 1987. It is one of the most visible survivals of his short, influential presidency.

Humphrys Flag Company · Old City Philadelphia · Est. 1864