On 27 April, MINURSO celebrated Sierra Leone’s National Day by raising its national flag at the Mission headquarters in Laayoune next to the UN flag.
Sierra Leone gained independence from the United Kingdom on 27 April 1961 to become a nation with its own governance structures.
Sierra Leone's participation in UN peacekeeping started in 1963 when it deployed peacekeepers to the UN Operation in the Congo (ONUC). At present, Sierra Leone contributes to many peacekeeping missions worldwide including MINURSO.
The upper stripe of Sierra Leone's flag is green and stands for the natural resources of Sierra Leone. The middle stripe is white and represents justice and unity. The bottom stripe is blue, and it represents the nation's hope of contributing to world peace.