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Flags of Africa

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A map of Africa with national flags, excluding dependent territories and partially recognized states

These are the various flags of Africa.

Supranational and international flags

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An incomplete list of flags representing all African international and supranational organisations, which omits intercontinental organisations such as the United Nations:

Flag Date Use Description
2010–present Flag of the African Union The flag of the African Union is a green flag with the dark green map of the African continent on a white sun, surrounded by a circle of 55 5-pointed gold (yellow) stars.
1945–present Flag of the Arab League The flag of the Arab League is two olive branches and 22 chain-links encircling a crescent and the name of the organisation (in Arabic)
2008–present Flag of the East African Community
2013–present Flag of the Organisation of African, Caribbean and Pacific States
2011–present Flag of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation The flag of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation is white with a green crescent and globe, with the Kaaba at the center of the globe.
1960–present Flag of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries
1992–present Flag of the Southern African Development Community

Flags of African sovereign states

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Flag Date Use Description
1962-present Flag of Algeria
See also: List of Algerian flags		 The flag consists of two equal vertical bars, green and white, charged in the center with a red star and crescent, a symbol of Islam as the nation's prominent faith.
1975–present Flag of Angola
See also: List of Angolan flags		 The flag has two horizontal bands of red and black with the Machete and Gear emblem in gold in the center consisted of a five pointed-star within a half gear wheel crossed by a machete (resembling the hammer and sickle used on the Soviet flag). As outlined in the Constitution of Angola, the red half of the flag signifies bloodshed – during Angola's colonial period, independence struggle, and in defense of the country. The black half symbolizes Africa. In the central emblem, the gear represents industrial workers and production, the machete represents peasantry, agricultural production and the armed struggle, and the star, shaped like the red star, symbolizes international solidarity and progress. The yellow color of the emblem symbolizes the country's wealth.
1959–1975
1990–present		 Flag of Benin As stated in Benin's national anthem, the green of the flag represent the hope of a new democracy. The red represents the courage of the ancestors, and the yellow is for the treasures of the nation. On a continental level, the yellow, green and red represented the Pan-Africanist movement.
1966–present Flag of Botswana The light blue represents water—specifically, in its form of rain, as it is a precious resource in Botswana. The blue also alludes to the motto featured on the coat of arms of Botswana—Pula, which means "Let there be rain" in Setswana —as well as life, which is sustained by water.

The black band with the white frame has two meanings. Firstly, they symbolise the harmony and cooperation between the people of different races who live in Botswana, as well as the racial diversity of the country. Furthermore, they represent the stripes of the zebra, the national animal of Botswana.

1984–present Flag of Burkina Faso The flag features a horizontal bicolour of red and green, centred with a yellow star.
1982–present Flag of Burundi
See also: List of Burundian flags		 The white color of the saltire represents peace, green represents the nation's hopes placed on future development and red symbolizes the suffering of the nation during its freedom struggle. The three stars in triangular configuration stand for the three ethnic groups of Burundi: the Hutu, the Twa and the Tutsi. The three stars also stand for the three elements of the national motto: Unité, Travail, Progrès ("Unity, Work and Progress"), which can be seen on the coat of arms of Burundi. They also represent the loyalty that the citizens of the nations have pledged to their God, king and country.
1975–present Flag of Cameroon
See also: List of Cameroonian flags		 The flag features a vertical tricolour of green, red and yellow, centred with a yellow star.
1992–present Flag of Cape Verde
Flag of the Central African Republic 1958–present Flag of the Central African Republic The flag features four horizontal bands of blue, white, green and yellow, centred with a vertical red band. There is also a yellow star at the hoist.
1959–present Flag of Chad The flag of Chad is a vertical tricolour consisting (left to right) of a blue, a gold and a red column. These were intended to be a combination of the colours of blue, white and red as seen on the Flag of France with the Pan-African colours of green, yellow and red as seen on the flag of Ethiopia.[1] Furthermore, the blue represents the sky and hope; the gold is the sun and desert, and the red signifies the bloodshed over independence.[2]
2001–present Flag of the Comoros
See also: List of Comorian flags
2006–present Flag of the Democratic Republic of the Congo
See also: List of flags of the Democratic Republic of the Congo
1959–1970
1991–present		 Flag of the Republic of the Congo The colours of the flag carry cultural, political, and regional meanings. The green symbolizes the agriculture and forests of the Congo, while the yellow represents the "friendship and nobility" of the Congolese people.[3][4] However, the symbolism behind the red was left unexplained.[3] From a continental viewpoint, the green, yellow and red are the colours of the Pan-Africanist movement.;[5]
1977–present Flag of Djibouti
See also: List of Djibouti flags
1984–present Flag of Egypt
See also: List of Egyptian flags
1979–present Flag of Equatorial Guinea
See also: List of flags of Equatorial Guinea
1995–present Flag of Eritrea
See also: List of Eritrean flags
1968–present Flag of Eswatini
2009–present Flag of Ethiopia
See also: List of Ethiopian flags
1960–present Flag of Gabon The yellow alludes to the Equator — which cuts across the country[3] — and also symbolizes the sun.[6] The green epitomizes the natural resources of Gabon.[5][6] The blue represents the sea,[5][6] specifically the South Atlantic Ocean.[3]
1965–present Flag of The Gambia
See also: List of Gambian flags		 The blue alludes to the Gambia River, which is the nation's key geographical feature and from which the country derives its name.[3] The red evokes the sun – given the Gambia's close proximity to the Equator[3] – as well as the savanna,[7][8] while the thin white stripes represent "unity and peace".[3][8] The green epitomizes the forest[7] and the agricultural goods that the Gambian people are heavily dependent on, both for exports and their personal use.[3]
1957–1958
1963–1964
1966–present		 Flag of Ghana
See also: List of Ghana flags
1958–present Flag of Guinea The flag features a simple vertical tricolour of red, yellow and green.
1973–present Flag of Guinea-Bissau The flag of Guinea-Bissau consists of a vertical red stripe on the hoist side charged with a black five-pointed star and two horizontal yellow and green stripes on the fly side.

The flag's design is taken from the flag of the African Party for the Independence of Guinea and Cape Verde, while the Pan-African colours of yellow, green, red and black are taken from the flag of Ghana.

1959–present Flag of Ivory Coast The flag is a vertical tricolour of orange, white and green, not to be confused with the Irish flag.
1963–present Flag of Kenya
See also: List of flags of Kenya
2006–present Flag of Lesotho
1847–present Flag of Liberia
1951–1969
2011–present		 Flag of Libya
See also: List of Libyan flags		 The flag is a horizontal unequal tricolour of red, black and green, centred with a white crescent moon and five-pointed star.
1958–present Flag of Madagascar
1964–2010
2012–present		 Flag of Malawi
1961–present Flag of Mali The flag is a simple vertical tricolour of green, yellow and red.
2017–present Flag of Mauritania
See also: List of Mauritanian flags
1968–present Flag of Mauritius
See also: List of Mauritian flags

The flag of Mauritius consists of red, blue, yellow and green bands. Red represents the struggle for freedom and independence. Blue represents the Indian Ocean, in which Mauritius is situated. Yellow represents the new light of independence. Green represents the agriculture of Mauritius and its colour throughout the 12 months of the year.The flag was designed by Gurudutt Moher whose contribution was recognised posthumously in March 2018 in the form of the national title Member of the Star and Key of the Indian Ocean (MSK). Moher, who was a retired school teacher, died of a heart attack on 7 October 2017, at the age of 93. [9]

1915–present Flag of Morocco
See also: List of Moroccan flags
1983–present Flag of Mozambique The Mozambican flag consists of

5 colours being red, black, green, yellow and white with also a gun, a hoe, and a book each representing the following: red for the blood shed during the war, black for the colour of the African people, green for agriculture and natural diversity, yellow for the mineral wealth, white for peace, the gun representing the army, the book representing knowledge and learning, and the hoe representing agriculture

1990–present Flag of Namibia
See also: List of Namibian flags
1959–present Flag of Niger
1960–present Flag of Nigeria
See also: List of Nigerian flags
2001–present Flag of Rwanda
See also: List of Rwandan flags
Flag of São Tomé and Príncipe 1975–present Flag of São Tomé and Príncipe
1960–present Flag of Senegal
1996–present Flag of Seychelles
1961–present Flag of Sierra Leone
See also: List of Sierra Leone flags
1954–present Flag of Somalia
See also: List of Somali flags
1994–present Flag of South Africa
See also: List of South African flags
2011–present Flag of South Sudan
See also: List of South Sudanese flags
1970–present Flag of Sudan
See also: List of Sudanese flags
1964–present Flag of Tanzania
See also: List of Tanzanian flags
1960–present Flag of Togo
See also: List of Togolese flags
1827–present Flag of Tunisia
See also: List of Tunisian flags
1962–present Flag of Uganda
See also: List of Ugandan flags
1964–present Flag of Zambia
1980–present Flag of Zimbabwe
See also: List of Zimbabwean flags

Disputed or partially recognised states

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Flag Date Use State (status) Description
1996–present Flag of Somaliland  Somalia The flag of Somaliland consists of a horizontal tricolour of green, white, and red, with the black star of Africa located in the centre. On the green stripe, there is the Shahada in white Thuluth script, the flag's colours are taken from the flag of the Somali National Movement.
1975–present Flag of the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic  Morocco (occupied lands)
 Mauritania (occupied city of La Agüera)
 Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic (the Free Zone/Liberated Territories)		 The flag of the SADR consists of a horizontal tricolor of black, white and green charged with a red star and crescent in the center stripe and a red chevron at the hoist.

Flags of African dependencies

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Flag Date Use State (status) Description
1982– Flag of the Canary Islands Spain (autonomous community)
Flag of Ceuta Spain (autonomous city)
1982–present Flag of Mayotte France (overseas department)
Flag of Melilla Spain (autonomous city)
2003–present Flag of Réunion France (overseas department)


1984–
2013–
2002–		 Flag of Saint Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha United Kingdom (overseas territory)

Flags of African subdivisions

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Angola

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Flag Date Use Description
Unknown Flag of Cabinda Province

Comoros

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Flag Date Use Description
2012–present Flag of Anjouan
Unknown Flag of Grande Comore
2003–present Flag of Mohéli

Egypt

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Flag Date Use Description
2014 - Unknown Flag of the Alexandria Governorate
2016 - Unknown Flag of the Aswan Governorate
2016 - Unknown Flag of the Asyut Governorate
2010 - Flag of the Beheira Governorate
2016 - Flag of the Beni Suef Governorate
2007 - Flag of the Cairo Governorate
2006 - Flag of the Dakahlia Governorate
Flag of the Damietta Governorate
2011 - Flag of the Faiyum Governorate
2010 - Flag of the Gharbia Governorate
2016 - Flag of the Giza Governorate
Unknown Flag of the Ismailia Governorate
2010 - Unknown Flag of the Kafr El Sheikh Governorate
2007 - Unknown Flag of the Luxor Governorate
2016 - Unknown Flag of the Matrouh Governorate
Unknown Flag of the Minya Governorate
Unknown Flag of the Monufia Governorate
2016 - Unknown Flag of the New Valley Governorate
2016 - Unknown Flag of the North Sinai Governorate
2011 - Unknown Flag of the Port Said Governorate
Unknown Flag of the Qalyubiyya Governorate
2016 - Unknown Flag of the Qena Governorate
2006 - Unknown Flag of the Red Sea Governorate
2010 - Unknown Flag of the Sharqia Governorate
Unknown Flag of the Sohag Governorate
Unknown Flag of the South Sinai Governorate
2006 - Unknown Flag of the Suez Governorate

Ethiopia

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Flag Date Use Description
Flag of the Afar Region
Flag of the Amhara Region
Flag of the Benishangul-Gumuz Region
Flag of the Gambela Region
Flag of the Harari Region
Flag of the Oromia Region
Flag of the Sidama Region
Flag of the Somali Region
-2023 Flag of the Southern Nations, Nationalities, and Peoples' Region
Flag of the South West Ethiopia Peoples' Region
Flag of the Tigray Region

Kenya

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Flag Date Use Description
Flag of Baringo County
Flag of Bomet County
Flag of Busia County
Flag of Elgeyo Marakwet County
Flag of Homa Bay County
Flag of Kilifi County
Flag of Laikipia County
Flag of Machakos County
Flag of Marsabit County
Flag of Meru County
Flag of Mombasa County
Flag of Nairobi County

Liberia

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Flag Date Use Description
Flag of Bomi County
Flag of Bong County
Flag of Gbarpolu County
Flag of Grand Bassa County
Flag of Grand Cape Mount County
Flag of Grand Gedeh County
Flag of Grand Kru County
Flag of Lofa County
Flag of Margibi County
Flag of Maryland County
Flag of Montserrado County
Flag of Nimba County
Flag of Rivercess County
Flag of River Gee County
Flag of Sinoe County

Nigeria

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Flag Date Use Description
Flag of Akwa Ibom State
Flag of Anambra State
Flag of Bayelsa State
Flag of Cross River State
Flag of Gombe State
Flag of Imo State
Flag of Kano State
Flag of Katsina State
Flag of Osun State
Flag of Oyo State
Flag of Sokoto State

São Tomé and Príncipe

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Flag Date Use Description
2011–present Flag of the Autonomous Region of Príncipe

Somalia

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Flag Date Use Description
Flag of Banaadir
2015–present Flag of Galmudug
Flag of Hirshabelle
2013–present Flag of Jubaland
2009–present Flag of Puntland
Flag of South West

South Africa

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Flag Date Use Description
1996–present Flag of Mpumalanga

Tanzania

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Flag Date Use Description
2005–present Flag of Zanzibar

Flags of African cities

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Main article: List of city flags in Africa

Flags of cities with over 1 million inhabitants.

Ethnic flags

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Flag Date Use Description
  Batwa flag
  Bemba flag
1998–present Berber flag
  Bubi flag
  Ewe flag
  Kanuri flag
  Lozi flag
  Maasai flag
1997–present Merina flag
1920–present Pan-African flag
Unknown-present Yoruba flag

Historical flags

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Flag Date Use Description
2012–2013 Flag of Azawad
1975–1990 Flag of the People's Republic of Benin
1967 Flag of the Republic of Benin
1967–1970 Flag of the Republic of Biafra
1962–1966 Flag of the Kingdom of Burundi
1966 Flag of the Republic of Burundi
1966–1967 Flag of the Republic of Burundi
1967–1982 Flag of the Republic of Burundi
1922–1961 Flag of British Cameroon
1957–1961 Flag of Cameroon
1961–1975 Flag of Cameroon
1876–1910 Flag of the Cape Colony
1975–1992 Flag of Cape Verde
1963–1975 Flag of the Comoros
1975–1978 Flag of the Comoros
1978–1992 Flag of the Comoros
1992–1996 Flag of the Comoros
1996–2001 Flag of the Comoros
1885–1960 Flag of the Congo Free State / the Belgian Congo
1960–1963 Flag of Congo-Léopoldville
1963–1966 Flag of Congo-Léopoldville / the Democratic Republic of the Congo
1966–1971 Flag of the Democratic Republic of the Congo
1997–2003 Flag of the Democratic Republic of the Congo
2003–2006 Flag of the Democratic Republic of the Congo
1970–1991 Flag of the People's Republic of the Congo
1949–1951 Flag of the Emirate of Cyrenaica
1922–1958 Flag of Egypt
1968–1973 Flag of Equatorial Guinea
1973–1979 Flag of Equatorial Guinea
1952–1962 Flag of Eritrea
1993–1995 Flag of Eritrea
1897–1914 Flag of Ethiopia
1914–1936, 1941–1974 Flag of Ethiopia
1974–1975 Flag of Ethiopia
1975–1987 Flag of Ethiopia
1987–1991 Flag of Ethiopia
1991–1996 Flag of Ethiopia
1996–2009 Flag of Ethiopia
1958–1959 Flag of French Sudan
1959–1960 Flag of Gabon
1889–1965 Flag of The Gambia
1964–1966 Flag of Ghana
1877–1957 Flag of the Gold Coast
1960–1963 Flag of the State of Katanga
1895–1921 Flag of Kenya
1921–1963 Flag of Kenya
1886–1906 Flag of the Lagos Colony
1966–1987 Flag of Lesotho
1987–2006 Flag of Lesotho
1827–1847 Flag of the Colony of Liberia / the Commonwealth of Liberia
1969–1972 Flag of Libya
1977–2011 Flag of Libya
1885–1896 Flag of the Malagasy Protectorate
2010–2012 Flag of Malawi
1959–1961 Flag of Mali
1854–1857 Flag of the Republic of Maryland
1959–2017 Flag of Mauritania
1869–1906 Flag of Mauritius
1906–1923 Flag of Mauritius
1923–1968 Flag of Mauritius
1974–1975 Flag of Mozambique
1975–1983 Flag of Mozambique
1983 Flag of Mozambique
1839–1843 Flag of the Natalia Republic
1884–1888 Flag of the Nieuwe Republiek
1900–1914 Flag of the Northern Nigeria Protectorate
1900–1914 Flag of the Southern Nigeria Protectorate
1914–1953 Flag of Nigeria
1953–1960 Flag of Nigeria
1914–1919 Flag of Nyasaland
1919–1925 Flag of Nyasaland
1925–1964 Flag of Nyasaland
1857–1902 Flag of the Orange Free State
1904–1910 Flag of the Orange River Colony
1939–1964 Flag of Northern Rhodesia
1924–1964 Flag of Southern Rhodesia
1964–1968 Flag of Southern Rhodesia / Rhodesia
1968–1979 Flag of Rhodesia
1979 Flag of Zimbabwe Rhodesia
1921–1926 Flag of the Republic of the Rif
1959–1961 Flag of Rwanda
1961–1962 Flag of Rwanda
1962–2001 Flag of Rwanda
1874–1984 Flag of Saint Helena
1958–1959 Flag of Senegal
1903–1961 Flag of the Seychelles
1961–1976 Flag of the Seychelles
1976–1977 Flag of the Seychelles
1977–1996 Flag of the Seychelles
1889–1916 Flag of Sierra Leone
1916–1961 Flag of Sierra Leone
1903–1950 Flag of British Somaliland
1950–1953 Flag of British Somaliland
1953–1960 Flag of British Somaliland
1960 Flag of the State of Somaliland
1991–1996 Flag of the Republic of Somaliland
1857–1874, 1875–1877, 1881–1902 Flag of the South African Republic
1874–1875 Flag of the South African Republic
1910–1912 Flag of the Union of South Africa
1912–1928 Flag of the Union of South Africa
1928–1982 Flag of the Union of South Africa / the Republic of South Africa
1982–1994 Flag of the Republic of South Africa
1960–1962 Flag of South Kasai
1883 Flag of Stellaland
1883–1885 Flag of Stellaland
1955 Flag of Sudan
1956–1970 Flag of Sudan
1890–1894 Flag of Swaziland
1894–1902 Flag of Swaziland
1968–2011 Flag of Swaziland
1923–1961 Flag of Tanganyika Territory
1961–1964 Flag of Tanganyika
1957–1958 Flag of Togo
1958–1960 Flag of Togo
1914–1962 Flag of Uganda
1962 Flag of Uganda
1959–1984 Flag of Upper Volta
1971–1997 Flag of Zaire
1964–1996 Flag of Zambia
1963–1964 Flag of the Sultanate of Zanzibar
1964 Flag of the People's Republic of Zanzibar
1964 Flag of the People's Republic of Zanzibar

Supranational and international flags

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Flag Date Use Description
1961–1985 Flag of the African and Malagasy Union
1967-1977 Flag of the East African Community
pre–2013 Flag of the Organisation of African, Caribbean and Pacific States
1970–2002, 2004–2010 Flag of the Organisation of African Unity / the African Union
1980–1992 Flag of the Southern African Development Coordination Conference
1958–1961 Flag of the Union of African States
1961–1963 Flag of the Union of African States

See also

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Lists of flags of African countries
Other pages about African flags

References

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  1. ^ MacDonald, Ian (20 November 2013). "Chad". Flags of the World. Retrieved 4 November 2016.
  2. ^ Minahan, James (2010). The complete guide to national symbols and emblems. Santa Barbara, Calif.: Greenwood Press. p. 806. ISBN 978-0-313-34496-1. OCLC 436221284.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h Smith, Whitney. "Gambia, flag of The". Encyclopædia Britannica. Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc. Retrieved May 21, 2014. (subscription required)
  4. ^ "Congo, Republic Of The". The World Factbook. CIA. Retrieved 1 June 2013.
  5. ^ a b c Complete Flags of the World. Dorling Kindersley. 6 January 2009. p. 92. ISBN 9780756654863.
  6. ^ a b c "Gabon". The World Factbook. CIA. Retrieved 3 September 2014.
  7. ^ a b Dorling Kindersley 2008, p. 77.
  8. ^ a b "Gambia, The". The World Factbook. CIA. Retrieved May 22, 2014.
  9. ^ The Government Gazette of Mauritius (2015). "THE NATIONAL FLAG ACT 2015" (PDF). The Government Gazette of Mauritius.

Works cited

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