Flag of Mozambique
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Image:FIAV 111111.svg Flag ratio: 2:3
The flag of Mozambique was adopted on May 1, 1983. It includes the image of an AK-47 and is the only national flag in the world to feature such a modern rifle.
The flag is based on the flag of the Mozambican Liberation Front (FRELIMO). The FRELIMO flag, used for a brief period after the country gained its independence from Portugal, looks like the current flag but lacking the emblem.
Contents |
[edit] Flag symbolism
Green: The riches of the soil
Black: The African continent
Yellow: The mineral riches
White: The peace
Red: The country’s struggle for independence
The Emblem:
Yellow star: The solidarity of the people and the socialistic beliefs of the country
Book: Education
Hoe: Peasants and agriculture
AK-47: The nation’s determination to protect its freedom
[edit] New flag?
In 2005, a competition was held to design a new flag for Mozambique. 119 entries were received and a winning flag was selected, but to this day the flag remains the same. This came in the context of a drive to create a new crest and anthem for the country. Mozambique's parliamentary opposition would specifically like to see removed from the flag the image of the Kalashnikov assault rifle, which symbolizes the nation's struggle for independence, according to press reports. This drive to change these national symbols has met great resistance from public opinion.
The proposition of a new flag was rejected by the FRELIMO-dominated parliament in December 2005. 169 proposed flags were turned down, including the current flag without the rifle.[1]
[edit] Historical flags
Flag of Portuguese East Africa (proposal).svg
Image:FIAV proposal.svgProposal flag of Portuguese East Africa |
Flag of Mozambique (1974-1975).svg
Image:FIAV historical.svgFlag of Mozambique between September 5, 1974 - June 25, 1975 |
Flag of Mozambique (1975-1983).svg
Image:FIAV historical.svgFlag of Mozambique between June 25, 1975 - April, 1983 |
Flag of Mozambique (1983).svg
Image:FIAV historical.svgFlag of Mozambique between April - May 1, 1983 |
[edit] References
- ^ "Mozambique: Parliament Keeps Gun In National Flag", New York Times, 20 December 2005. Retrieved on 2007-11-14.
Flags of Africa | |
|---|---|
| Sovereign states | Algeria · Angola · Benin · Botswana · Burkina Faso · Burundi · Cameroon · Cape Verde · Central African Republic · Chad · Comoros · Democratic Republic of the Congo · Republic of the Congo · Côte d'Ivoire (Ivory Coast) · Djibouti · Egypt · Equatorial Guinea · Eritrea · Ethiopia · Gabon · The Gambia · Ghana · Guinea · Guinea-Bissau · Kenya · Lesotho · Liberia · Libya · Madagascar · Malawi · Mali · Mauritania · Mauritius · Morocco · Mozambique · Namibia · Niger · Nigeria · Rwanda · São Tomé and Príncipe · Senegal · Seychelles · Sierra Leone · Somalia · South Africa · Sudan · Swaziland · Tanzania · Togo · Tunisia · Uganda · Zambia · Zimbabwe |
| Dependencies, autonomies and other territories | Canary Islands (Spain) · Ceuta (Spain) · Madeira (Portugal) · Mayotte (France) · Melilla (Spain) · Puntland · Réunion (France) · St. Helena (UK) · Socotra (Yemen) · Somaliland · Southern Sudan · Western Sahara · Zanzibar (Tanzania) |
National flags and coats of arms | |
|---|---|
| National flags | Sovereign states · Dependent territories · Unrecognized states · Formerly independent states |
| National coats of arms | Sovereign states · Dependent territories · Unrecognized states |
ast:Bandera de Mozambique bs:Zastava Mozambika da:Mozambiques flag de:Flagge Mosambiks el:Σημαία της Μοζαμβίκης es:Bandera de Mozambique eu:Mozambikeko bandera fr:Drapeau du Mozambique bpy:মোজাম্বিকর ফিরালহান it:Bandiera del Mozambico he:דגל מוזמביק sw:Bendera ya Msumbiji lt:Mozambiko vėliava hu:Mozambik zászlaja nl:Vlag van Mozambique ja:モザンビークの国旗 no:Mosambiks flagg pl:Flaga Mozambiku pt:Bandeira de Moçambique ro:Steagul Mozambicului ru:Флаг Мозамбика sk:Vlajka Mozambiku sr:Застава Мозамбика fi:Mosambikin lippu sv:Moçambiques flagga zh:莫三比克國旗
