As the first French African colony to gain independence, Guinea adopted their current official flag in November of 1958.  This flag models the French tricolor, with three vertical bands, but embraces African unity using the pan-African colors.  The red-yellow-green pattern also references the national motto, “Work, Justice, Solidarity.”  Sékou Touré, the first president of Guinea offered the following explanation of the colors:

"Red: the colour of blood, symbol of our anti-colonialist martyrs. It is the sweat that runs over the ivory body of farmers, factory workers and other active workers. It is the wish for progress. Therefore red matches perfectly the first word of our motto: "Travail" (Work).
Yellow: the colour of Guinean gold and African sun. It is the source of energy, generosity and equality for all men to which he gives light equally. Therefore yellow matches perfectly with the second word of our motto: "Justice".
Green: the colour of the African vegetation. 85% of the population are farmers living in the countryside, which is ever covered with a green coat. Green symbolizes prosperity which will surely arise from the wide wealth of soil and subsoil, and the difficult life of the countryside masses in our country. Therefore, green will confirm the meaning of the third word of the motto: "Solidarite'" (Solidarity.)"