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List of flags of the Democratic Republic of the Congo

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

This is a list of flags used by the Democratic Republic of the Congo and its antecedents.

National

[edit]
Flag Date Use Description
2006–present Flag of the Democratic Republic of the Congo Sky blue flag, adorned with a yellow star in the upper left canton and cut diagonally by a red stripe with a thin yellow frame.

Standards

[edit]
Flag Date Use Description
2006-present Flag of the president of the Democratic Republic of the Congo National flag with the addition of the inscription "Le President"
1971–1997 Presidential standard of Zaire
1936–1960 Standard of the governor-general of the Belgian Congo Flag of the Belgian Congo superimposed on the top left of the flag of Belgium

Sub-national

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Flag Date Use Description
1960–1967 Flag of Léopoldville
1967–2011 Flag of Kinshasa
2011–present Flag of Kinshasa

Political flags

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Flag Date Party Description
2009–Present Future of Congo

Rebel groups

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Flag Date Use Description
2006–present Flag of National Congress for the Defence of the People The design of this flag resembles the flag of Zaire.
1996–present Flag of Allied Democratic Forces
2014–present Flag of Nduma Defense of Congo-Renovated
2000–present Flag of Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda
2010s–present Separatist flag of Kivu
1987–present Flag of the Lord's Resistance Army

Ethnic groups flags

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Flag Date Use Description
?–present Flag of Batwa (originally it was only represented by Batwa in Rwanda)
?–present Flag of the Bakongo in DMK

Historical

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National

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Flag Date Associated state Design Notes
1876–1879 International African Association Blue background emblazoned with a central yellow five-pointed star The blue background symbolises the Congo River and the yellow star (which is still used) symbolises both unity,[1] and a bright future.[2] It was the only flag used during the entire period of colonial Belgian administration.
1879–1885 International Association of the Congo
1885–1908 Congo Free State
1908–1960 Belgian Congo
1960–1963 First Congolese Republic An additional six yellow five-pointed stars are added to the hoist The added stars represent the six state provinces existing at the time of independence from Belgium.[2]
1963–1964 A yellow five-pointed star sitting alongside a red and gold bend sinister on a blue background The red bend represents the blood of martyrs, and the gold frame represents the riches of the land.[1]
1964–1966 Democratic Republic of the Congo
1966–1971 The red and gold bend sinister was changed to a reduced bend sinister
1971–1997 Republic of Zaire Light green emblazoned with a yellow circle containing an arm holding a red torch Filled with Pan-African colours, the flag has a central emblem which is that of the Popular Movement. The torch symbolises the spirit of revolution and the lives of dead revolutionaries.[3]
1997–2003 Democratic Republic of the Congo
2003–2006


Other

[edit]
Flag Date Use Description
1895–1908 Flag of the Batetela Rebels
1960–1962 Flag of the South Kasai
1960–1963 Flag of the State of Katanga
1971–1997 Flag of the Armed Forces of Zaire Similar to the Presidential Standard of Zaire

Flag Proposal

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Flag Date Use Description
May 1960 Anti-Lumumbist proposal for the flag of Congo-Léopoldville

References

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General

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  • Jott, K.J. (2010). Flags of the World. Atglen, Pennsylvania: Schiffer Publishing. ISBN 978-0-7643-3635-5.
  • Moore, Edwin; Ross, David (1986). Collins Gem Guides: Flags of the World. Glascow: William Collins, Sons & Co. Ltd. ISBN 0-00-459503-3.
  • Znamierowski, Alfred (2003). The World Encyclopedia of Flags (2nd ed.). London: Anness Publishing. ISBN 0-681-60280-5.

Citations

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  1. ^ a b Jott 2010, p. 51.
  2. ^ a b Znamierowski 2003, p. 220.
  3. ^ Moore & Ross 1986, p. 212.