Page 87 - (DK) Complete Flags of the World
P. 87
Africa
Ivory Coast
Ratio: 2:3 Adopted: December 3, 1959 Usage: National and Civil
The design is
modeled on the Green recalls their
French Tricolore coastal forests
Orange represents the
savannah grasslands
White represents
the country’s rivers
Africa
-ALI "URKINAKINA Ivory Coast was originally part of French
'UINEA
) )6/29
#/!34 4 West Africa. It became independent in its own
'HANA
ERI
ERI
ERIA
,IBERIERI
right on August 7, 1960.
After independence, Ivory Coast interpretation is that they symbolize
formed a loose alliance of West progress, hope, and national unity.
African states. The flags of these The flag was adopted in 1959, just
states were influenced both by the prior to independence.
pan-African colors first used by
Ghana, and also by the model of the THE NATIONAL ARMS
French Tricolore, the flag of the The coat of arms, which has a green
former colonial power. shield charged with an elephant’s
head, is based on the emblem of the
ALLIANCE OF WEST AFRICAN STATES Rassemblement Démocratique Africaine,
T
T
The colors chosen for Ivory Coast’s the dominant political party at the
flag were also used by Niger, with time of independence. Originally the
which Ivory Coast had an alliance elephant’s head was on a blue shield,
(the resemblance to the colors of but this was altered in 1964 to green,
Ireland is coincidental). They were to match the national flag. The shield
intended to symbolize the following: is supported by two palm trees.
orange represents the savannah Behind is a rising sun. On a scroll at
grasslands, white the rivers, and green the base of the arms is the title of the
the coastal forests. Another state, “Republique de Côte d’Ivoire.”
83

