Flags of Africa
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[]
An incomplete list of flags representing intra-African international and supranational organisations, which omits intercontinental organisations such as the United Nations:
| Flag | Date | Use | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
 |
2010 – | 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 – | 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 – | Flag of the East African Community | |
 |
2013 – | Flag of the Organisation of African, Caribbean and Pacific States | |
 |
2011 – | 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 – | Flag of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries | |
 |
1992 – | Flag of the Southern African Development Community |
Flags of African sovereign states[]
| Flag | Date | Use | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
 |
1962 – | Flag of Algeria | 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 – | Flag of Angola | 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 – |
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 – | 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 – | Flag of Burkina Faso | |
 |
1982 – | Flag of Burundi | 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 – | Flag of Cameroon See also: List of Cameroonian flags |
|
 |
1992 – | Flag of Cape Verde | |
 |
1958 – | Flag of the Central African Republic | |
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1959 – | 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.[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 – | Flag of the Comoros | |
 |
2006 – | Flag of the Democratic Republic of the Congo See also: List of flags of the Democratic Republic of the Congo |
|
 |
1959 – 1970 1991 – |
Flag of the Republic of the Congo | |
 |
1977 – | Flag of Djibouti | |
 |
1984 – | Flag of Egypt See also: List of Egyptian flags |
|
 |
1979 – | Flag of Equatorial Guinea | |
 |
1995 – | Flag of Eritrea | |
 |
1968 – | Flag of Eswatini | |
 |
2009 – | Flag of Ethiopia | |
 |
1960 – | Flag of Gabon | The yellow alludes to the Equator — which cuts across the country[3] — and also symbolizes the sun.[4] The green epitomizes the natural resources of Gabon.[5] [4] The blue represents the sea,[5][4] specifically the South Atlantic Ocean.[3] |
 |
1965 – | Flag of The Gambia | 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,[6][7] while the thin white stripes represent "unity and peace".[3][7] The green epitomizes the forest[6] 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 – |
Flag of Ghana | |
 |
1958 – | Flag of Guinea | |
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1973 – | Flag of Guinea-Bissau | |
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1959 – | Flag of Ivory Coast | |
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1963 – | Flag of Kenya See also: List of flags of Kenya |
|
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2006 – | Flag of Lesotho | |
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1847 – | Flag of Liberia | |
 |
1951 – 1969 2011 – |
Flag of Libya | |
 |
1958 – | Flag of Madagascar | |
 |
1964 – 2010 2012 – |
Flag of Malawi | |
 |
1961 – | Flag of Mali | |
 |
2017 – | Flag of Mauritania | |
 |
1968 – | 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.[8] |
 |
1915 – | Flag of Morocco See also: List of Moroccan flags |
|
 |
1983 – | Flag of Mozambique | |
 |
1990 – | Flag of Namibia | |
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1959 – | Flag of Niger | |
 |
1960 – | Flag of Nigeria | |
 |
2001 – | Flag of Rwanda | |
 |
1975 – | Flag of São Tomé and Príncipe | |
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1960 – | Flag of Senegal | |
 |
1996 – | Flag of the Seychelles | |
 |
1961 – | Flag of Sierra Leone | |
 |
1954 – | Flag of Somalia | |
 |
1994 – | Flag of South Africa See also: List of South African flags |
|
 |
2011 – | Flag of South Sudan | |
 |
1970 – | Flag of Sudan | |
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1964 – | Flag of Tanzania | |
 |
1960 – | Flag of Togo | |
 |
1827 – | Flag of Tunisia | |
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1962 – | Flag of Uganda | |
 |
1964 – | Flag of Zambia | |
 |
1980 – | Flag of Zimbabwe See also: List of Zimbabwean flags |
Flags of African dependencies[]
| Flag | Date | Use | State (status) | Description |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 |
1982– | Flag of the Canary Islands | Spain (autonomous community) | |
 |
Flag of Ceuta | Spain (autonomous city) | ||
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1982 – | Flag of Mayotte | France (overseas department) | |
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Flag of Melilla | Spain (autonomous city) | ||
|
2003 – | Flag of Réunion | France (overseas department) | |
   |
1984– 2013– 2002– |
Flag of Saint Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha | United Kingdom (overseas territory) |
Disputed or partially recognised states[]
| Flag | Date | Use | State (status) | Description |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 |
1996 – | Flag of Somaliland |  Somalia
| |
 |
1975 – | 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 and the Claimed Inalienable Area)
|
Flags of African subdivisions[]
Angola[]
| Flag | Date | Use | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
 |
Flag of Cabinda Province |
Comoros[]
| Flag | Date | Use | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
 |
2012 – | Flag of Anjouan | |
 |
Flag of Grande Comore | ||
 |
2003 – | Flag of Mohéli |
Egypt[]
| Flag | Date | Use | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
 |
2014 - | Flag of the Alexandria Governorate | |
 |
2016 - | Flag of the Aswan Governorate | |
 |
2016 - | Flag of the Asyut Governorate | |
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2010 - | Flag of the Beheira Governorate | |
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2016 - | Flag of the Beni Suef Governorate | |
 |
2007 - | Flag of the Cairo Governorate | |
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2006 - | Flag of the Dakahlia Governorate | |
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Flag of the Damietta Governorate | ||
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2011 - | Flag of the Faiyum Governorate | |
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2010 - | Flag of the Gharbia Governorate | |
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2016 - | Flag of the Giza Governorate | |
 |
Flag of the Ismailia Governorate | ||
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2010 - | Flag of the Kafr El Sheikh Governorate | |
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2007 - | Flag of the Luxor Governorate | |
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2016 - | Flag of the Matrouh Governorate | |
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Flag of the Minya Governorate | ||
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Flag of the Monufia Governorate | ||
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2016 - | Flag of the New Valley Governorate | |
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2016 - | Flag of the North Sinai Governorate | |
 |
2011 - | Flag of the Port Said Governorate | |
 |
Flag of the Qalyubiyya Governorate | ||
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2016 - | Flag of the Qena Governorate | |
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2006 - | Flag of the Red Sea Governorate | |
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2010 - | Flag of the Sharqia Governorate | |
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Flag of the Sohag Governorate | ||
 |
Flag of the South Sinai Governorate | ||
 |
2006 - | Flag of the Suez Governorate |
Ethiopia[]
| Flag | Date | Use | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
 |
Flag of the Afar Region | ||
 |
Flag of the Amhara Region | ||
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Flag of the Benishangul-Gumuz Region | ||
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Flag of the Gambela Region | ||
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Flag of the Harari Region | ||
 |
Flag of the Oromia Region | ||
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Flag of the Sidama Region | ||
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Flag of the Somali Region | ||
 |
Flag of the Southern Nations, Nationalities, and Peoples' Region | ||
 |
Flag of the South West Ethiopia Peoples' Region | ||
 |
Flag of the Tigray Region |
Kenya[]
| Flag | Date | Use | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
 |
Flag of Baringo County | ||
 |
Flag of Bomet County | ||
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Flag of Busia County | ||
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Flag of Elgeyo Marakwet County | ||
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Flag of Homa Bay County | ||
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Flag of Kilifi County | ||
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Flag of Laikipia County | ||
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Flag of Machakos County | ||
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Flag of Marsabit County | ||
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Flag of Meru County | ||
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Flag of Mombasa County | ||
 |
Flag of Nairobi County |
Liberia[]
| Flag | Date | Use | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
 |
Flag of Bomi County | ||
 |
Flag of Bong County | ||
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Flag of Gbarpolu County | ||
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Flag of Grand Bassa County | ||
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Flag of Grand Cape Mount County | ||
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Flag of Grand Gedeh County | ||
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Flag of Grand Kru County | ||
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Flag of Lofa County | ||
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Flag of Margibi County | ||
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Flag of Maryland County | ||
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Flag of Montserrado County | ||
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Flag of Nimba County | ||
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Flag of Rivercess County | ||
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Flag of River Gee County | ||
 |
Flag of Sinoe County |
Nigeria[]
| Flag | Date | Use | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
 |
Flag of Akwa Ibom State | ||
 |
Flag of Anambra State | ||
 |
Flag of Bayelsa State | ||
 |
Flag of Gombe State | ||
 |
Flag of Kano State | ||
 |
Flag of Katsina State | ||
 |
Flag of Osun State |
São Tomé and Príncipe[]
| Flag | Date | Use | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
 |
2011 – | Flag of the Autonomous Region of Príncipe |
Somalia[]
| Flag | Date | Use | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
 |
Flag of Banaadir | ||
 |
2015 – | Flag of Galmudug | |
 |
Flag of Hirshabelle | ||
 |
2013 – | Flag of Jubaland | |
 |
2009 – | Flag of Puntland | |
 |
Flag of South West |
South Africa[]
| Flag | Date | Use | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
 |
1996 – | Flag of Mpumalanga |
Tanzania[]
| Flag | Date | Use | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
 |
2005 – | Flag of Zanzibar |
Ethnic flags[]
| Flag | Date | Use | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
 |
Batwa flag | ||
 |
Bemba flag | ||
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1998 – | Berber flag | |
| 2005 – | Coptic flag | ||
 |
Lozi flag | ||
 |
Maasai flag | ||
 |
1997 – | Merina flag | |
 |
1920 – | Pan-African flag |
Historical flags[]
| 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 | |
 |
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 | |
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1997 – 2003 | Flag of the Democratic Republic of the Congo | |
 |
2003 – 2006 | Flag of the Democratic Republic of the Congo | |
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1970 – 1991 | Flag of the People's Republic of the Congo | |
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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 | |
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1914 – 1936, 1941 – 1974 | Flag of Ethiopia | |
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1974 – 1975 | Flag of Ethiopia | |
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1975 – 1987 | Flag of Ethiopia | |
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1987 – 1991 | Flag of Ethiopia | |
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1991 – 1996 | Flag of Ethiopia | |
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1996 – 2009 | Flag of Ethiopia | |
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1958 – 1959 | Flag of French Sudan | |
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1959 – 1960 | Flag of Gabon | |
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1889 – 1965 | Flag of The Gambia | |
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1964 – 1966 | Flag of Ghana | |
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1877 – 1957 | Flag of the Gold Coast | |
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1960 – 1963 | Flag of the State of Katanga | |
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1895 – 1921 | Flag of Kenya | |
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1921 – 1963 | Flag of Kenya | |
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1886 – 1906 | Flag of the Lagos Colony | |
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1966 – 1987 | Flag of Lesotho | |
 |
1987 – 2006 | Flag of Lesotho | |
 |
1969 – 1972 | Flag of Libya | |
 |
1977 – 2011 | Flag of Libya | |
 |
1885 – 1896 | Flag of the Malagasy Protectorate | |
 |
2010 – 2012 | Flag of Malawi | |
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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 | |
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1923 – 1968 | Flag of Mauritius | |
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1974 – 1975 | Flag of Mozambique | |
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1975 – 1983 | Flag of Mozambique | |
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1983 | Flag of Mozambique | |
 |
1839 – 1843 | Flag of the Natalia Republic | |
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1884 – 1888 | Flag of the Nieuwe Republiek | |
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1900 – 1914 | Flag of the Northern Nigeria Protectorate | |
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1900 – 1914 | Flag of the Southern Nigeria Protectorate | |
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1914 – 1953 | Flag of Nigeria | |
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1953 – 1960 | Flag of Nigeria | |
 |
1914 – 1919 | Flag of Nyasaland | |
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1919 – 1925 | Flag of Nyasaland | |
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1925 – 1964 | Flag of Nyasaland | |
 |
1857 – 1902 | Flag of the Orange Free State | |
 |
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 | |
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1959 – 1961 | Flag of Rwanda | |
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1961 – 1962 | Flag of Rwanda | |
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1962 – 2001 | Flag of Rwanda | |
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1874 – 1984 | Flag of Saint Helena | |
 |
1958 – 1959 | Flag of Senegal | |
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1903 – 1961 | Flag of the Seychelles | |
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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 | |
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1910 – 1912 | Flag of South Africa | |
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1912 – 1928 | Flag of South Africa | |
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1928 – 1994 | Flag of South Africa | |
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1883 | Flag of Stellaland | |
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1883 – 1885 | Flag of Stellaland | |
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1956 – 1970 | Flag of Sudan | |
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1890 – 1894 | Flag of Swaziland | |
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1894 – 1902 | Flag of Swaziland | |
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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 | |
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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[]
| Flag | Date | Use | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
 |
1961 – 1985 | Flag of the African and Malagasy Union | |
 |
1948 – 1961 | Flag of the East Africa High Commission | |
 |
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[]
- Lists of flags of African countries
- List of Cameroonian flags
- List of Democratic Republic of the Congo flags
- List of Egyptian flags
- List of Kenyan flags
- List of Mauritian flags
- List of Moroccan flags
- List of South African flags
- List of Zimbabwean flags
- Other pages about African flags
- Pan-African colours
- Pan-African flag
References[]
- ^ MacDonald, Ian (20 November 2013). "Chad". Flags of the World. Retrieved 4 November 2016.
- ^ 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.
- ^ a b c d e f Smith, Whitney. "Gambia, flag of The". Encyclopædia Britannica. Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc. Retrieved May 21, 2014. (subscription required)
- ^ a b c "Gabon". The World Factbook. CIA. Retrieved 3 September 2014.
- ^ a b Complete Flags of the World. Dorling Kindersley. 6 January 2009. p. 92. ISBN 9780756654863.
- ^ a b Dorling Kindersley 2008, p. 77.
- ^ a b "Gambia, The". The World Factbook. CIA. Retrieved May 22, 2014.
- ^ The Government Gazette of Mauritius (2015). "THE NATIONAL FLAG ACT 2015" (PDF). The Government Gazette of Mauritius.
Categories:
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