Flag of Niger
Encyclopedia
The Flag of Niger has been the national symbol of the West African Republic of Niger
since 1959, a year prior to its formal independence from France
. It uses the national colors of orange, white and green, in equal horizontal bands, with an orange rondel
in the center. The flag forms one of the official national symbols of the Republic of Niger, with the coat of arms of Niger
, the National Anthem ("la Nigérienne
"), the crest (used in the center of the coat of arms), and the motto
: "Fraternité, Travail, Progrès". These form Article 1 of the first part of the 1999 Constitution of Niger
. The flag is similar to the Flag of India
, although the ratio, shade of orange, and symbol in the center differ.
, the flag of Niger was adopted by the Territorial Assembly of the Niger Colony on 23 November 1959, shortly before proclamation of the Republic within the French Community
on 18 December 1959. The flag was designed in 1958. It was retained upon independence in 1960 and has remained unchanged through the 1999 Fifth Constitution
), the center white band represents purity (though this is sometimes said to be the River Niger), and the lower green band represents both hope and the fertile regions of southern Niger. The orange circle in the center band is said to represent the sun or independence.
Niger's flag is a tricolour
, in common with other former dependencies and colonies of France.
Niger
Niger , officially named the Republic of Niger, is a landlocked country in Western Africa, named after the Niger River. It borders Nigeria and Benin to the south, Burkina Faso and Mali to the west, Algeria and Libya to the north and Chad to the east...
since 1959, a year prior to its formal independence from France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
. It uses the national colors of orange, white and green, in equal horizontal bands, with an orange rondel
Rondel
Rondel may refer to:* Rondel or roundel, type of medieval dagger...
in the center. The flag forms one of the official national symbols of the Republic of Niger, with the coat of arms of Niger
Coat of arms of Niger
The coat of arms of Niger shows a four-part flag draping in the national colors orange, white, and green. In the middle, the state seal is arranged. On a white or gold shield the four golden symbols are shown...
, the National Anthem ("la Nigérienne
La Nigerienne
"La Nigérienne" is the national anthem of Niger. The lyrics are by Maurice Albert Thiriet. Robert Jacquet and Nicolas Abel François Frionnet wrote the music. It was adopted as Niger's anthem in 1961.- Lyrics :-External links:...
"), the crest (used in the center of the coat of arms), and the motto
Motto
A motto is a phrase meant to formally summarize the general motivation or intention of a social group or organization. A motto may be in any language, but Latin is the most used. The local language is usual in the mottoes of governments...
: "Fraternité, Travail, Progrès". These form Article 1 of the first part of the 1999 Constitution of Niger
Constitution of Niger
The Republic of Niger has had seven constitutions, two substantial constitutional revisions, and two periods of rule by decree since its independence from French colonial rule in 1960...
. The flag is similar to the Flag of India
Flag of India
The National flag of India is a horizontal rectangular tricolour of deep saffron, white and India green; with the Ashok Chakra, a 24-spoke wheel, in navy blue at its centre. It was adopted in its present form during a meeting of the Constituent Assembly held on 22 July 1947, when it became the...
, although the ratio, shade of orange, and symbol in the center differ.
Legal definition
Prior to independence from French West AfricaFrench West Africa
French West Africa was a federation of eight French colonial territories in Africa: Mauritania, Senegal, French Sudan , French Guinea , Côte d'Ivoire , Upper Volta , Dahomey and Niger...
, the flag of Niger was adopted by the Territorial Assembly of the Niger Colony on 23 November 1959, shortly before proclamation of the Republic within the French Community
French Community
The French Community was an association of states known in French simply as La Communauté. In 1958 it replaced the French Union, which had itself succeeded the French colonial empire in 1946....
on 18 December 1959. The flag was designed in 1958. It was retained upon independence in 1960 and has remained unchanged through the 1999 Fifth Constitution
Symbolism
A number of sources have described the symbolic intent of the flag, although official sources are silent upon this. A common interpretation is that the upper orange band represents the northern regions of the Sahara Desert (though this is sometimes said to be the SahelSahel
The Sahel is the ecoclimatic and biogeographic zone of transition between the Sahara desert in the North and the Sudanian Savannas in the south.It stretches across the North African continent between the Atlantic Ocean and the Red Sea....
), the center white band represents purity (though this is sometimes said to be the River Niger), and the lower green band represents both hope and the fertile regions of southern Niger. The orange circle in the center band is said to represent the sun or independence.
Niger's flag is a tricolour
Tricolour
A tricolour is a flag or banner more-or-less equally divided into three bands of differing colours...
, in common with other former dependencies and colonies of France.