Wikigence at 08:58, 27 October 2025

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	== References ==		== References ==
	{{Reflist}}		{{Reflist}}
			== References ==
			{{Reflist}}


	== External links ==		== External links ==

Wikigence: Created page with "{{Short description|none}} {{Good article}} {{Use British English|date=October 2025}} {{Use dmy dates|date=September 2025}} {{Infobox flag | Name = Islamic Republic of Mauritania | Image = Flag of Mauritania.svg.png | Use = 111111 | Symbol = {{FIAV|111000}}{{FIAV|normal}}{{FIAV|Equal}} | Proportion = 2:3 | Adoption = {{start date and age|2017|10|25|df=y}} | Design = A green field bordered above and below by a horizontal re..."

2025-10-25T04:21:35Z

Created page with "{{Short description|none}} {{Good article}} {{Use British English|date=October 2025}} {{Use dmy dates|date=September 2025}} {{Infobox flag | Name = Islamic Republic of Mauritania | Image = Flag of Mauritania.svg.png | Use = 111111 | Symbol = {{FIAV|111000}}{{FIAV|normal}}{{FIAV|Equal}} | Proportion = 2:3 | Adoption = {{start date and age|2017|10|25|df=y}} | Design = A green field bordered above and below by a horizontal re..."

New page

{{Short description|none}}
{{Good article}}
{{Use British English|date=October 2025}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2025}}
{{Infobox flag
| Name = Islamic Republic of Mauritania
| Image = Flag of Mauritania.svg.png
| Use = 111111
| Symbol = {{FIAV|111000}}{{FIAV|normal}}{{FIAV|Equal}}
| Proportion = 2:3
| Adoption = {{start date and age|2017|10|25|df=y}}
| Design = A green [[Field (heraldry)|field]] bordered above and below by a horizontal red band and [[Charge (heraldry)|charged]] in the center with an upward-pointing golden [[crescent and star]]
}}

The [[national flag]] of [[Mauritania]] is a green [[Field (heraldry)|field]] bordered above and below by a horizontal red band and [[Charge (heraldry)|charged]] in the centre with an upward-pointing golden [[crescent and star]]. It is a derivative of the country's first flag, which omitted the red bands. The current flag was adopted by decree in 2017 following a [[2017 Mauritanian constitutional referendum|constitutional referendum]] in which 86% of voters voted in favour of changing the flag. However, the design was not standardised until 2020, when the government of Mauritania published official graphic guidelines for the national flag.

== Design and construction ==
Although the design of the current flag was first described legally by Decree No. 2017-467 issued on 25 October 2017, it was not standardised until the release of a government-published graphic guidelines for national symbols in May 2020.<ref name="Graphic Guidelines">{{cite web |script-title=ar:الهوية البصرية{{nbsp|2}}إلدارات وهيئات ومصالح |title=Charte graphique de la République islamique de Mauritanie |trans-title=Graphic Guidelines of the Islamic Republic of Mauritania |url=https://www.kennach.gov.mr/IMG/pdf/_ar_fr_charte_graphique_mauritanie.pdf |website=www.kennach.gov.mr |date=May 2020 |publisher=[[Government of Mauritania]] |access-date=1 September 2025 |pages=7–11 |language=French, Arabic |ref={{harvid|Government of Mauritania|2020}}}} '''NOTE:''' Page numbers for this source refer to the French translation included in the latter half of the linked PDF.</ref> Article 1 of the guidelines describes the design as "a flag bearing a golden [[crescent and star]] on a green background, and a red horizontal rectangular stripe on either side".{{sfn|Government of Mauritania|2020|p=7}} Article 2 elaborates on the specifics of the design: the flag's width-to-length ratio is 2:3, the crescent and star are centred with the crescent's convexity facing downwards, the star is five-pointed and positioned horizontally at the edges of the crescent, and the width of each red stripe is a fifth of the flag's width.{{sfn|Government of Mauritania|2020|p=7}} In addition to the guidelines in Article 2, the following parameters are observed when constructing the flag:{{sfn|Government of Mauritania|2020|p=8}}
* The width of the green field should be three-fifths of the flag's width.
* The distance between the upper red band and the upper tip of the star, as well as the lower red band and the bottom of the crescent, should be a tenth of the flag's width.
* The diameter of the crescent should be half of the flag's length, with the crescent's tips at the farthest left and right points of the circle.
The guidelines do not permit the dimensions and shapes of the flag to be altered. The minimum measurements for a drawn flag are {{convert|5.5 by 7.8|mm}}.{{sfn|Government of Mauritania|2020|p=9}} When constructing the flag, the guidelines recommend beginning with a green field, then adding the red bands, the star, and finally the crescent.{{sfn|Government of Mauritania|2020|p=8}}

The [[CMYK color model|CMYK]], [[Hexadecimal]], and [[RGB color model|RGB]] values of the flag's colours are also listed in the guidelines. When printed in [[black and white]], the following [[greyscale]] percentages are used: 85% grey for the bands, 50% for the field, and 10% for the crescent and star.{{sfn|Government of Mauritania|2020|p=10}} When printed against the background of another image, the guidelines recommend that the flag should have a border equal to a twentieth of its width.{{sfn|Government of Mauritania|2020|p=11}}

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|+ Standard colours of the flag of Mauritania{{sfn|Government of Mauritania|2020|p=10}}
! scope="col" |
! scope="col" style="background:#00A95C; color:white" | Green
! scope="col" style="background:#D01C1F; color:white" | Red
! scope="col" style="background:#FFD700; color:white" | Gold
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align:right" | [[CMYK color model|CMYK]]
| 86/5/95/0
| 11/100/100/4
| 1/13/100/0
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align:right" | [[Hexadecimal]]
| #00A95C
| #D01C1F
| #FFD700
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align:right" | [[RGB color model|RGB]]
| 0/169/92
| 208/28/31
| 255/215/0
|}

[[File:Flag of Mauritania (Construction Sheet).png|thumb|center|upright=1.3|Construction sheet of the flag{{sfn|Government of Mauritania|2020|p=8}}]]

=== Symbolism ===
The crescent and star, as well as the colour [[Green in Islam|green]], are [[symbols of Islam]]. The late [[Vexillology|vexillologist]] [[Whitney Smith]] describes the crescent and star design of the Mauritanian flag as "of the conservative type common before the 20th century", similar to those of the [[Flags of the Ottoman Empire|old flags of Turkey]], [[Flag of the Comoros#Former flags|the Comoros]], and [[Flag of Tunisia#Previous flags|Tunisia]].<ref name="Smith Mauritania">{{cite web |last=Smith |first=Whitney |author-link=Whitney Smith |title=Flag of Mauritania |url=https://www.britannica.com/topic/flag-of-Mauritania |access-date=1 September 2025 |website=[[Encyclopædia Britannica]] |publisher=[[Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.]] |date=18 April 2018 |orig-date=16 February 2001 |language=en}}</ref> The red represents the blood shed by Mauritanians who fought for the country's independence from France.<ref name="News24 flag">{{cite news |title=Mauritania vows referendum to abolish Senate, change flag |date=23 March 2017 |url=https://www.news24.com/Africa/News/mauritania-vows-referendum-to-abolish-senate-change-flag-20170323 |access-date=1 September 2025 |work=[[News24 (website)|News24]]}}</ref>

== Protocol ==
[[File:The Mauritanian flag in the Freedom Yard (cropped).jpg|thumb|The Mauritanian flag flying in [[Nouakchott]], the country's capital]]

The graphic guidelines include images depicting how physical flags should be displayed. According to the guidelines, government buildings should display the flag on a flagpole centred in front of or at the top of the building. The guidelines further state that when looking at the front of a building or desk, the [[Fly (flag)|fly]] side of the flag should be to the right of the viewer; on vehicles, the fly side should be facing away from the vehicle.{{sfn|Government of Mauritania|2020|p=9}}

Disrespecting the national flag is a criminal offence under Article 2 of the [[Law on Protection of National Symbols]] (2021).<ref>{{cite news |script-title=ar:قانون حماية الرموز.. يمجد الرئيس والوطن والدين ويثير مواقف متضاربة في موريتانيا |trans-title=Law on Protection of Symbols glorifies the president, the nation, and religion and raises conflicting positions in Mauritania |date=27 July 2021 |url=https://www.aljazeera.net/politics/2021/7/27/%D9%82%D8%A7%D9%86%D9%88%D9%86-%D8%AD%D9%85%D8%A7%D9%8A%D8%A9-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%B1%D9%85%D9%88%D8%B2-%D9%8A%D9%85%D8%AC%D8%AF-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%B1%D8%A6%D9%8A%D8%B3-%D9%88%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%88%D8%B7%D9%86 |access-date=1 September 2025 |newspaper=[[Al Jazeera Arabic|Al Jazeera]] |language=ar}}</ref> Doing so is punishable by two to four years in prison and a fine of 200,000 to 500,000 [[Mauritanian ouguiya]]s.<ref>{{cite web |script-title=ar:الجريدة رسمية للجمهورية اإلسالمية الموريتانية العدد 1499 |trans-title=Official Gazette of the Islamic Republic of Mauritania, Issue No. 1499 |date=15 December 2021 |url=https://msgg.gov.mr/sites/default/files/2022-04/J.O.%201499A%20DU%2015.12.2021.pdf |access-date=1 September 2025 |language=ar}}</ref>

== History ==
[[File:Flag of Mauritania (1959–2017).svg|thumb|The first flag of Mauritania (1 April 1959 – 25 October 2017)]]

The [[flag of France]] flew in Mauritania from the start of the colonial period in the early 20th century until 1 April 1959, when the first national flag of Mauritania was adopted. Mauritania had been an autonomous republic within the [[French Union]] (the successor to the [[French colonial empire]]) since 28 November 1958. When the country gained its independence two years later on 28 November 1960, the national flag remained unchanged.<ref name="Smith Mauritania"/>

The design of the former national flag is identical to the current one but without the red bands. A proposal to change the flag first emerged at the 2016 Inclusive National Dialogue held by the Mauritanian government from 28 September to 20 October.<ref name="Sidya 2016">{{cite news |last=Sidya |first=Cheikh |title=Mauritanie: pas de référendum constitutionnel à cause de la crise économique |trans-title=Mauritania: No constitutional referendum due to economic crisis |url=https://afrique.le360.ma/mauritanie/politique/2016/12/30/8570-mauritanie-pas-de-referendum-constitutionnel-cause-de-la-crise-economique-8570/ |access-date=1 September 2025 |work=Le 360 Afrique |date=30 December 2016 |language=fr}}</ref> Lawmakers from the ruling majority wanted the flag to include symbols representing the country's fight for independence.<ref name="News24 flag"/> A referendum for the proposed changes was originally scheduled for that year but cancelled after public consultation and concerns over the referendum's expenses amid an economic crisis.<ref name="Sidya 2016"/> Mauritania's political opposition, which had boycotted the national dialogue, opposed the proposed changes.<ref>{{cite news |last=Sidya |first=Cheikh |title=Mauritanie: un référendum pour supprimer le Sénat, changer de drapeau et d'hymne |trans-title=Mauritania: a referendum to abolish the Senate, change the flag and the anthem |url=http://afrique.le360.ma/mauritanie/politique/2016/11/04/7208-mauritanie-un-referendum-pour-supprimer-le-senat-changer-de-drapeau-et-dhymne-7208 |access-date=1 September 2025 |work=Le 360 Afrique |date=4 November 2016 |language=fr}}</ref> A subsequent proposal to amend the constitution to introduce the changes passed in the lower [[National Assembly (Mauritania)|National Assembly]] but was voted down in the upper [[Senate of Mauritania|Senate]] on 22 March 2017 (the proposed amendments included the abolishment of the Senate). Then-president [[Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz]] described the proposal's failure as a "dysfunction" in Mauritania's democracy and said the changes would be put to a referendum "as quickly as possible".<ref name="News24 flag"/>

A [[2017 Mauritanian constitutional referendum|constitutional referendum was held on 5 August 2017]], in which over 86% of voters voted to change the national flag and [[National anthem of Mauritania|anthem]]. Turnout was reportedly 54%.<ref>{{cite news |title=Mauritanie – Référendum constitutionnel : la CENI proclame les résultats |trans-title=Mauritania – Constitutional referendum: CENI announces the results |url=http://fr.alakhbar.info/12742-0-Mauritanie---Referendum-la-CENI-proclame-les-resultats.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170807152955/http://fr.alakhbar.info/12742-0-Mauritanie---Referendum-la-CENI-proclame-les-resultats.html |archive-date=7 August 2017 |access-date=1 September 2025 |language=fr}}</ref> The National Assembly, which became [[Unicameralism|unicameral]] after the referendum, subsequently approved the flag change by adopting Bill No. 136/17 on 12 October.<ref>{{cite news |title=Adoption du projet de loi n°136/17 |trans-title=Adoption of Bill No. 136/17 |url=http://www.assembleenationale.mr/2017/10/12/adoption-du-projet-de-loi-n13617/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191114133807/http://www.assembleenationale.mr/2017/10/12/adoption-du-projet-de-loi-n13617/ |archive-date=14 November 2019 |access-date=1 September 2025 |language=fr}}</ref> The change was put into law by Decree No. 2017-467 on 25 October, and the new flag was raised for the first time on 28 November, the anniversary of Mauritania's independence from France.{{sfn|Government of Mauritania|2020|p=7}}<ref name="Smith Mauritania"/> In May 2020, the Mauritanian government published graphic guidelines standardising the design of the national flag and outlining its construction and usage for official bodies to reference.{{sfn|Government of Mauritania|2020|p=4}}

== See also ==
* [[List of Mauritanian flags]]
* [[Seal of Mauritania]]

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

== External links ==
* {{Commons category-inline|Flags of Mauritania}}
* {{FOTW|id=mr|title=Mauritania}}

{{Arab flags}}
{{Africa topic|Flag of|title=[[Flags of Africa]]}}

{{Mauritania topics}}

[[Category:National symbols of Mauritania]]
[[Category:Flags of Africa|Mauritania]]
[[Category:Flags with star and crescent|Mauritania]]
[[Category:Flags introduced in 1959|Mauritania]]
[[Category:Flags introduced in 2017|Mauritania]]
[[Category:National flags|Mauritania]]
[[Category:Flags with green, red and yellow|Mauritania]]
[[Category:Spanish fess flags|Mauritania]]
[[Category:Horizontally symmetrical flags|Mauritania]]

Flag of Mauritania - Revision history

Wikigence at 08:58, 27 October 2025