The flag of the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic, which was adopted in February 1976, is composed of three horizontal stripes in black, white and green colours. On the pole side of the flag, a red wedge is located and the central white stripe carries a symbol of a five-pointed star and a crescent. The colours used have traditional pan-Arab character which expresses solidarity among Arab nations. In addition, the red colour indicates revolutionary and progressive character of the state. The crescent and the star are traditional symbols of Islam.