 Flag ratio: 6:7
Guide to construction of the Flag elements at the ratio: 6:7
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 devise: "Fraternité, Travail, Progrès". These form Article 1 of the first part of the 1999 Constitution of Niger.
Legal definition
Prior to independence from French West Africa, 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 of Niger. The 'Actes du Government de la Republique du Niger No, 59-1' of 23 November 1959 -- published in Journal Officiel de la Republique du Niger No. 1 of 1 January 1960 -- lay out the official flag, as do identical passages in the 1993 and 1999 constitutions. None of these gives either an official ratio or proportional size of the central rondel.1
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 Sahel), 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.2
Niger's flag is a tricolour, in common with other former dependencies and colonies of France.
Ratio
The flag's traditional portrayal with an unusual off-square ratio is of unknown significance, and is not used consistently in print applications of the Nigerien government.3
Ratio 2:3
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Ratio 3:5
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Ratio 1:2
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References
- Portions of this article were translated from the German language Wikipedia article de:Flagge Nigers,, (consulted 2008-07-25).
- W. Smith, O. Neubecker: Die Zeichen der Menschen und Völker: Unsere Welt in Fahnen und Flaggen. Reich Verlag Luzern, 1975, ISBN 3-7243-0115-4
- Flag of Niger at FOTW, (consulted 2008-07-25).
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Flag ratio: 6:7.svg)
