The seal of Mauritania (Arabic: شعار الجمهورية الإسلامية الموريتانية‎, French: Sceau de la Mauritanie) is based on the national flag of Mauritania adopted on April 1, 1959. The colors of green and gold are considered Pan-African colors. Green is also to symbolize Islam, and the gold for the sands of the Sahara desert. The crescent and star are symbols of Islam, the major religion in the nation. The edges read "Islamic Republic of Mauritania" in Arabic and French.