Members of Parliament (MPs) in Mauritania’s lower house of parliament have voted to change the country flag’s to include two red bands to indicate the blood shed during the fight to end colonial rule from France.

According to Ceoafrica, the current green flag has a crescent and star symbolising the importance of Islam to the country.

The lawmakers also decided to get rid of the Senate, which must now vote on these constitutional amendments.

The ruling party has a majority in both the lower and upper chamber.