Eritrea

About the flag

The gold olive branch encircled by a wreath is a hallmark of this flag, symbolizing peace and agriculture and echoing the emblem used on the 1952 national flag. Its colors also carry meaning: green for agriculture, blue for the Red Sea, and red for the sacrifices made during the long independence struggle. After a 30-year war, independence was achieved in 1993, and the design draws from the liberation movement’s banner. The capital, Asmara, is renowned for its Italian-era modernist architecture and is a UNESCO World Heritage site. With a long Red Sea coastline, the country has historically served as a crossroads of trade linking Africa and the Middle East.