Flag of Burundi
 | |
| Use | National flag and ensign |
|---|---|
| Proportion | 3:5 |
| Adopted | 28 June 1967 |
| Design | A white saltire on a red and green field with a white disk, consisting of three red solid six-pointed stars outlined in green, being on the center. |
The national flag of Burundi was adopted on 28 June 1967 after the country's independence from Belgium on 1 July 1962. It consists of a white saltire which divides the field into alternating red and green areas. The center of the saltire merges into a white disk, on which there are three red solid six-pointed stars outlined in green. The ratio of the flag was 2:3 until 27 September 1982. The current ratio is 3:5.[1]
Symbolism
The flag is divided into four parts by a white cross. The upper and lower parts are red in color while the left and right ones are green in color. White color of the cross represents peace, green represents the nation's hopes placed on future development and red symbolizes the suffering of the nation during its freedom struggle.[2] The three stars in triangular configuration stand for the three major ethnic groups of Burundi: the Hutu, the Twa and the Tutsi.[2] 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.[3] They also represent the loyalty that the citizens of the nations have pledged to their God, king and country.[2]
History of the flag
When the monarchy ruled over Burundi the flag featured a karyenda (a drum said to have divine power).[3] It was believed that the drum's messages could be understood only by the rulers (mwami) who made it the laws of the state. In November 1966 the karyenda was removed from the flag following the abolition of the monarchy and a new flag was adopted on 28 June 1967. The karyenda was replaced with a sorghum plant which is an important agricultural product of the country.[2]
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Flag from 1 July 1962 to 28 November 1966. -
Flag used on 28 and 29 November 1966 -
Flag from 29 November 1966 to 28 March 1967 -
Flag from 28 March 1967 to 27 September 1982 -
The current national flag, adopted on 27 September 1982 features slightly different dimensions to the 1967 flag
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References
- ^ "Burundi flag". World Flags. Retrieved 15 September 2014.
- ^ a b c d "flag of Burundi". Encyclopædia Britannica. Retrieved 15 September 2014.
- ^ a b Guide to the Flags of the World by Mauro Talocci, revised and updated by Whitney Smith (ISBN 0-688-01141-1), p. 153.