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Flags of Africa

These are the various flags of Africa.

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

Supranational and international flags

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An incomplete list of flags representing African international and supranational organisations.

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 stars.
  2008–present Flag of the East African Community
  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
  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.
  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
  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

Mauritius

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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
  1972–1984 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
  1972–1977 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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