Flag of Guinea-Bissau
| Use | National flag and ensign |
|---|---|
| Proportion | 1:2 |
| Adopted | 24 September 1973 |
| Design | One vertical red line on the hoist side charged with a black five-pointed star; two horizontal lines on the fly side of yellow and green |
The national flag of Guinea-Bissau was adopted on 24 September 1973, the day the country proclaimed its independence from Portugal. It is almost identical to the flag of the African Party for the Independence of Guinea and Cape Verde, the country's dominant party and previously sole ruling party.
The black star symbolises the leadership of the PAIGC, with its colour representing the people of Africa. Yellow and green correspond to Guinea-Bissau's northern savannas and southern forests, respectively, and the two are also meant to represent agriculture. Little legislation has been made on the proper colours of the flag, though a piece of legislation from 1993 states, "Anyone who, publicly, by words, gestures or written disclosures, or by other means of communication with the public, outrages the Republic, the national flag or anthem, the weapons or emblems of Guinean sovereignty or fails to respect due to him, is punished up to three years in prison."