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Sierra Leone

Last modified: 2019-04-06 by rob raeside
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2:3 | image by by Željko Heimer


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Description of the Flag

Green over white over blue tricolour. It may be noted that the shades of both green and blue are lighter then one might expect (if one consider that British very
dark blue
is to be expected as the "normal" blue shade here). Source: Album des Pavillons (2000)

This tricolour flag is probably derived from the coat of arms, which were granted in 1960.  The flag was adopted in 1961. The green in the coat of arms is symbolic of the hilly mountains, white and blue are for waves (i.e. sea). Smith (1975) agrees, adding that the white in the flag stands for unity and justice (cf. the national motto). Smith also calls the shades of the colours "leaf green" and "cobalt blue".
Željko Heimer
, 15 January 2003

The protocol manual for the London 2012 Olympics (Flags and Anthems Manual London 2012) provides recommendations for national flag designs. Each NOC was sent an image of the flag, including the PMS shades, for their approval by LOCOG. Once this was obtained, LOCOG produced a 60 x 90 cm version of the flag for further approval. So, while these specs may not be the official, government, version of each flag, they are certainly what the NOC believed the flag to be.
For Sierra Leone: PMS 361 green, 292 blue. The vertical flag is simply the horizontal version turned 90 degrees anti-clockwise.
Ian Sumner, 11 October 2012


Legal Description

The flag was last confirmed by Chapter One, Article 3(1) of the Constitution (Act No. 6 of 1991) dated 1 October 1991 as follows:
3. (1)
a. The Flag of which the design is described in paragraph (b) hereof is hereby declared to be the National Flag of Sierra Leone.
b. The design of the Flag shall be from the top of the Flag to the bottom thereof, three horizontal stripes of green, white and blue.
c. The normal size of the Flag for official use shall be in the proportion of nine units across to six units down.

Christopher Southworth, 25 April 2009


Coat of arms

Sierra Leone coat of arms image by António Martins-Tuválkin, 27 May 2008

At least three flags depict the coat of arms of Sierra Leone in some form: UN Special Court for Sierra LeoneAmbassador and Queen Elizabeth's personal flag, 1961-1971. The image above is based on http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Coat_of_arms_of_Sierra_Leone.png and http://Vector-Images.com.
António Martins-Tuválkin, 27 May 2008


Naval Ensign of Sierra Leone

2:3 |   image by Željko Heimer

White flag with the national flag in canton. Source: Album des Pavillons (2000)
Neither Smith (1975) nor Crampton (1990) show this flag - both reporting the national flag for all purposes. But maybe this was changed between 1975 and 1990.
Željko Heimer, 15 January 2003

I saw the naval flag four years ago flying on Sierra Leonean gunboats in Freetown.
Arthur T Porter, 22 September 2001

1:2 |   image by Željko Heimer

Part of another photo in the current Navy News shows a Sierra Leone patrol-boat. What is probably the naval ensign appears to include an overall St George's cross.
David Prothero, 7 July 2006

Here is the flag, assuming 1:2 ratio and British width of the red cross (2/15 of hoist) although this may not be what they actually use or prescribe.
Željko Heimer, 7 July 2006


Aircraft Marking

image by Željko Heimer

Green-white-blue roundel. National flag is painted on the fin.

Željko Heimer, 15 January 2003