Initially, the flag of Mali as described in paragraph 5 of Article 1 of the Constitution of the Republic of Mali, on September 22, 1960, consists of three equal vertical stripes and colors green, gold and red, he wears black gold on the tape, the ideogram for the Humanities arms raised skyward.

This first version of the national flag, carried by the emotion of the proclamation of national independence, was immediately adopted by the population.
Presentation of the flag

The law of 20 January 1961 devotes the final version of the national flag of Mali. It is composed of three bands of color green, gold and red.

The green color of the first band means hope, the green meadows and fields of Mali, its soil and what it can produce for the welfare of the people of Mali. Green also recalls a primarily agricultural country for the development, modernization and integration content which no effort will be spared.

With regard to the color or up to the second vertical band, it indicates that gold holds the basement of Mali, in addition to other potential mineral resources.

Who does not remember the story of the epic journey of Kankou Moussa to Mecca? The gold therefore acknowledges the awareness in the Malians of this heritage that is theirs and determined to defend at all costs.

The red color of the third vertical band, is for Malians at the same time a remembrance, a meditation and an exhortation.

Malians must remember the blood shed by theirs to defend their homeland against foreign occupation and the release of the latter from the colonial yoke.
The red of the national flag is an exhortation for Malians fight to the last drop of their blood to preserve the integrity of their soil, the subsoil and their artistic and cultural heritage in order to exploit them in their own and unique interests.
(Source: Great Chancery of Mali)