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Landlocked Mali is named after the Mali Empire, a West African kingdom that flourished during the 13th and 14th centuries.
From the late 19th century Mali became a French colony called French Sudan, which was incorporated into
a federation of states called French West Africa.
When the French constructed federation dissolved in 1958, the French Sudan was renamed the Sudanese Republic and joined Senegal to create a union called the
Mali Federation, in 1959.
In 1960, Senegal seceded from the federation, proclaiming its independence as a separate state. In September 1960, the former French Sudan proclaimed its independence as the Republic of Mali.
Both Mali and Senegal have continued to use flags similar to the one adopted by the
Mali Federation in January 1959.
The Mali Federation's flag was based on the flag of the former colonial ruler of both countries, the French
national flag.
The French blue-white-red panels were replaced with the pan-African colours of green-yellow-red,
with the centre panel featuring a black stylised human stick figure, called a Kanaga.
Mali initially adopted the flag of the former Mali Federation complete, but in March
1961 removed the Kanaga.
The current Mali flag was adopted on the 1st of March 1961.
The pan-African colours have been adopted by many African ex-colonies and symbolise African independence and unity. It is believed the colours originated from the flag of Ethiopia, the oldest independent nation in Africa.
However, the colours were also those of the African Democratic Rally, the political party that led the
fight for Malian independence. |
