The national flag of Sudan, commonly called the Sudan flag, consists of three equal horizontal stripes of red, white, and black with a green isosceles triangle introduced at independence in 1956.
In Arabic, the national flag is referred to as ʿalam as-Sudān, while English-language sources use "flag of Sudan," "flag of Sudan," "national flag of Sudan," or "Sudan country flag." The design belongs to the broader group of flags that use Pan-Arab colors and is distinct from the South Sudan flag adopted after that country’s independence in 2011. Current legal and reference materials treat this red-white-black tricolor with a green hoist triangle as the official national flag of Sudan.
This article explains the design and proportions of the Sudan flag, summarizes widely cited interpretations of its colors, describes where flags of sudan appear in public spaces, compares it neutrally with similar flags such as the Palestine flag (including common searches like "Sudan vs. Palestine flag" and "Sudan Palestine flag"), and links the national flag to practical travel and connectivity information for visitors.
📌 النقاط الرئيسية
- Status: The Sudan flag is the official national flag of the Republic of Sudan, adopted on 20 May 1970 and used as the state and civil flag.
- Visibility: Flags of sudan are displayed on government buildings, some airports and border posts, courts, and embassies, and feature prominently during national events and commemorations.
- Specification: The national flag of sudan is a horizontal red-white-black tricolor with a green isosceles triangle at the hoist, using an official height-to-length ratio of 1:2.
- Identification: The Sudan flag can be recognized by three equal horizontal stripes (red, white, and black) combined with a green triangle at the hoist that spans the full height of the flag.
- Interpretation: Commonly cited sudan flag meaning links red to struggle and sacrifice, white to peace and optimism, black to the Sudanese people and the country’s name, and green to Islam, agriculture, and prosperity.
Public Presence of the Sudan Flag
At airports and other formal entry points that are operating, the Sudan flag is typically displayed on mastheads and façades near passenger or cargo processing areas. Where cross-border traffic is taking place, flags of sudan may appear on customs offices, immigration posts, and gate structures, helping to indicate where Sudan is exercising border control.
In Khartoum, which serves as the capital of Sudan, the red-white-black tricolor with the green triangle is flown at the Republican Palace, national ministries, and the National Assembly complex, as well as at some bridges and intersections that carry strategic road traffic. In other cities such as Port Sudan and Kassala, Sudan flags are visible at port facilities, state government offices, and selected public institutions, while display on private buildings tends to be more occasional and influenced by national observances.
Public schools, some universities, and security installations use the Sudan flag on flagpoles at main entrances or parade grounds. In practice, routine daily flag display is concentrated at official sites and key infrastructure, with patterns affected by local administrative conditions and the broader security situation.
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Design and Layout of the Sudan Flag
Formal references define the Sudan flag as a horizontal tricolor with a hoist-side triangle and a fixed height-to-length proportion. The following table summarizes the principal design parameters and commonly used digital and print approximations.
| Aspect | Specification |
|---|---|
| Orientation | Three equal horizontal bands with hoist triangle |
| Colors | Red, white, black, green |
| Digital colors | Red: RGB(206,17,38), HEX #CE1126; White: RGB(255,255,255), HEX #FFFFFF; Black: RGB(0,0,0), HEX #000000; Green: RGB(0,122,61), HEX #007A3D |
| Print colors | Red: CMYK(0,92,82,19); White: CMYK(0,0,0,0); Black: CMYK(0,0,0,100); Green: CMYK(100,0,80,30) |
| Color arrangement | Horizontal stripes: red (top), white (middle), black (bottom) |
| Emblem or symbol placement | A green isosceles triangle at the hoist, with the base on the hoist edge and the point toward the fly. |
| Official proportions | Height:length = 1:2 |
Legal and vexillological sources define the Sudan flag by its four colors, stripe layout, triangular hoist element, and 1:2 rectangle. Color codes such as HEX and CMYK are widely used as working standards for textiles and digital graphics, while the legally important features are the color names and geometric arrangement.
Flag of Sudan: Meaning and Symbolism
Reference materials indicate that interpretations of the Sudan flag’s colors and shapes are broadly consistent across official and educational contexts, though detailed wording varies. Red is commonly described as representing the struggle for independence, revolution, or the blood of martyrs. White is often associated with peace, light, and optimism for the country’s future. Black is linked to the Sudanese people and to the Arabic term “Bilād as-Sudān,” historically meaning “land of the black people.”
The green hoist-side triangle is widely interpreted as symbolizing Islam, which is the majority religion in Sudan, and it is also connected to themes of agriculture, natural fertility along the Nile and other cultivated areas, and aspirations for growth and prosperity. Many analyses of Sudan’s flag meaning also highlight that the design incorporates the complete set of Pan-Arab colors, placing Sudan within a wider Arab cultural and historical context while preserving a configuration that is distinct from the flag of South Sudan, which was adopted later.
What the Sudan Flag Represents
- Red: is often described as symbolizing the struggle for independence and the sacrifices of Sudanese people.
- White: is widely interpreted as representing peace, light, and hopes for stability and reconciliation.
- Black: is commonly linked to the Sudanese population and the historic naming of Sudan as a land of Black people.
- The green triangle: is frequently associated with Islam, agriculture, natural fertility, and aspirations for prosperity.
How to Identify the Flag of Sudan
In multi-flag displays at airports, border posts, conferences, or international organizations, the Sudan flag appears alongside other national flags and may also be part of graphics indicating where Sudan is located within regional maps. Correct identification requires attention to stripe order, triangle placement, and overall proportions.
- Look for: three equal horizontal stripes arranged red at the top, white in the middle, and black at the bottom across the full length of the flag.
- Look for: a green isosceles triangle that is anchored at the hoist. The base of the triangle should be along the hoist edge, and the point should be pointing toward the fly. The triangle should cover parts of the red, white, and black bands and go all the way up the flag.
- Confirm: that the flag has a relatively long rectangular shape, with a height-to-length ratio of approximately 1:2, making it noticeably wider than many other flags that feature similar colors.
- Distinguish: the flag of sudan from the South Sudan flag by noting the absence of a blue triangle and yellow star, and from the Palestine flag by the Sudanese flag’s red top stripe and green triangle instead of a red triangle and black upper stripe.
- Use: the combination of red, white, and black stripes and a green hoist triangle spanning all three bands to differentiate Sudan’s flag from other Pan-Arab designs that place stars or additional emblems in the center.
Similar Flags Commonly Confused With the Sudan Flag
Several national flags use Pan-Arab colors and hoist-side triangles, leading to frequent comparisons between the sudan flag vs. the Palestine flag, the Sudan-Palestine flag, and other regional flags.
The table below summarizes neutral visual similarities and key differences.
| Commonly confused with | Shared visual elements | Key difference |
|---|---|---|
| Palestine Flag | The flag features black, white, and green stripes, along with a red triangle. | Red hoist triangle, different stripe order, no red top stripe across full length |
| Jordan Flag | Pan-Arab colours with hoist triangle | Red triangle with white star; stripes arranged black-white-green, not red-white-black |
| United Arab Emirates Flag | Red, green, white, black palette | Vertical red stripe at hoist and horizontal green-white-black bands |
| Yemen Flag | Red-white-black horizontal tricolour | No green triangle; three horizontal stripes only, without additional shapes |
History of the Flag of Sudan
The flag of sudan reflects a transition from an independence-era design highlighting local geographical elements to a flag that visually aligns Sudan with other Arab states. Upon independence on 1 January 1956, Sudan adopted a flag of three equal horizontal stripes of blue, yellow, and green.
Blue symbolized the Nile River, yellow represented the Sahara Desert, and green denoted agricultural land and vegetation. This first republic of sudan flag aimed to be nationally distinctive and geographically descriptive.
After the 1969 coup and subsequent political changes, Sudan shifted towards Pan-Arab colors in its state symbolism. The current design with red-white-black stripes and a green hoist triangle is commonly attributed to Abdel Rahman Ahmed Al-Jali and was officially adopted on 20 May 1970. Some accounts describe the selection as the result of a national design competition. Since adoption, this design has remained in place, including after the secession of South Sudan in 2011, when the new state introduced its own flag for South Sudan with a different arrangement of colors and symbols.
- 1956: At independence, Sudan adopts a blue-yellow-green horizontal tricolor referencing the Nile, desert, and agriculture.
- Late 1960s: Political shifts encourage the adoption of Pan-Arab colors in national symbols.
- 20 May 1970: The current red-white-black tricolor with a green hoist triangle, attributed to Abdel Rahman Ahmed Al-Jali, is officially adopted as the Sudan flag.
- Late 20th century: The Sudan flag is used consistently in regional bodies and international organizations alongside other Pan-Arab-inspired flags.
- 2011: South Sudan becomes independent and adopts a separate national flag, while Sudan retains the 1970 design.
- Present: The red-white-black tricolor with a green triangle continues as the national flag in all formal state contexts.
Sudan Flag Etiquette for Visitors: Common Dos and Don’ts
Public practice around the Sudan flag emphasizes respect, proper orientation, and appropriate condition, particularly in governmental, educational, and ceremonial settings. Visitors can look at how Sudanese institutions manage the national flag for practical guidance on expected norms when encountering Sudan's symbols.
| Commonly observed | Typically avoided |
|---|---|
| It is important to keep the Sudan flag clean, intact, and correctly oriented at all times. | It is inappropriate to display the flag when it is torn, heavily faded, or visibly dirty. |
| The national flag should be flown at government offices, schools, courts, and other significant public institutions. | People often use the Sudan flag as casual clothing, improvised drapery, or as a floor covering. |
| On national days, at official ceremonies, and at major commemorative events, the flag is hoisted. | Large commercial slogans or advertising graphics are printed directly onto the flag design. |
| Replacing worn flags with new ones that follow correct colors and 1:2 proportions. | The flag should not be intentionally placed in contexts that appear to be mocking, degrading, or inflammatory. |
| Using accurate Sudan flag images in educational and informational materials. | Rearranging the stripes or triangle colors in formal or official contexts. |
Flag of Sudan: Practical Travel Tips for Tourists
In travel-related contexts, the Sudan flag functions as a visual marker for official facilities and administrative jurisdictions, particularly when navigating complex urban layouts or frontier zones. Recognizing the national flag can help visitors identify government offices, security installations, and customs-immigration facilities, especially where written information is primarily in Arabic.
- Transport: Where operations are active, airports, seaports, and overland crossing points may display flags of sudan near terminal buildings, customs checkpoints, and security posts, marking state-run infrastructure and points of entry or exit.
- Wayfinding: Government complexes, state ministries, and local administrative headquarters in cities and larger towns generally fly the Sudan flag at main gates or on rooftops, helping distinguish official premises from nearby private or commercial sites.
- Language: Public signage commonly uses Arabic, with English present to varying degrees, so the presence of the Sudan flag on buildings and boundary markers provides a quick visual cue for identifying public institutions.
- Connectivity: Zain Sudan, Sudani (Sudatel), MTN Sudan, and Canar Telecom provide telecommunication services, with mobile coverage strongest in Khartoum and other larger urban centers, enabling the use of navigation, translation, and communication apps when infrastructure remains available.
Mobile connectivity also allows travelers to check the time difference in Sudan relative to other regions and to coordinate calls or remote work across time zones when Sudan is part of multi-country travel plans.
Staying Connected in Sudan with SimCorner
When entering Sudan through functioning airports or land borders, reliable mobile data can support orientation in and around Khartoum, Port Sudan, and other key localities, especially for locating official buildings where the Sudan flag is displayed and for accessing basic services. A local data connection makes it easier to access maps, translation tools, secure messaging, and online booking platforms than relying solely on intermittent Wi-Fi.
SimCorner offers eSIM Sudan products and Sudan SIM cards that are intended to connect to major local networks such as Zain Sudan, Sudani, MTN Sudan, and, where applicable, Canar Telecom. These options focus on being budget-friendly, quick to set up using a QR code or physical SIM, allowing you to share data with other devices, and offering clear plans that don't include extra charges usually found with home-country SIMs when used abroad.
For itineraries that involve multiple regions and any accessible sites often listed among the top things to do in Sudan, such as cultural landmarks, riverfront areas, or desert landscapes, consistent mobile coverage—where available—supports ongoing use of navigation, communication, and information tools. SimCorner’s 24/7 support provides a single point of contact for account or connection questions during a stay.
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