Afrique · Flag ID ·

Eritrea Flag: Meaning and History

Embroidered flag patch — Eritrea

History of the flag

The name Eritrea comes from the Greek ‘eruthros’, meaning ‘red’. The current flag was adopted in 1993, when Eritrea gained independence from Ethiopia.

What do the elements of the flag mean?

  • The olive tree is a message of peace, its yellow color symbolizing the riches of the earth and prosperity.

  • The color of blood shed during the wars of independence.

  • Green represents hope, agriculture and fertility.

  • For the Red Sea, the country's essential source of life.

Back to Flags