The green band symbolises Equatorial Guinea's natural resources, its agriculture and its rainforests. The blue chevron symbolises the sea, which connects the mainland part of the country with its islands (as the sea is wont to do). White symbolises peace, and red symbolises the blood shed by the fighters for independence.
The coat of arms shows a grey shield, on which is represented a kapok or silk cotton tree – the so–called "God tree", where the local ruler is said to have signed a treaty with the first Portuguese visitors – or the Spanish, depending on which source you believe.
(The first European to visit what is now Equatorial Guinea was the Portuguese navigator Fernão do Pó (a.k.a. Fernando Pó), who landed on the island of Bioko in 1472. The Portuguese settled on the island, but were replaced by the Dutch from 1642 to 1648. In 1778 the island was ceded to King Charles II of Spain. The Spanish did not establish strong rule on the island, and the British took it over on a lease from 1827 to 1843, after which the Spanish established full control.)
Above the shield there are six six–pointed stars, representing the mainland and the five main islands. Beneath it is a scroll bearing the words 'Unidad Paz Justicia' (Unity Peace Jusctice).
© Haydn Thompson 2017