This is a list of flags used by the Democratic Republic of the Congo and its antecedents.
National
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
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
Flag | Date | Use | Description |
---|---|---|---|
1960–1967 | Flag of Léopoldville | ||
1967–2011 | Flag of Kinshasa | ||
2011–present | Flag of Kinshasa |
Political flags
Flag | Date | Party | Description |
---|---|---|---|
2009–Present | Future of Congo |
Rebel groups
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
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
National
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, and a bright future. 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. | |
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. | ||
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. | |
1997–2003 | Democratic Republic of the Congo | |||
2003–2006 |
Other
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
Flag | Date | Use | Description |
---|---|---|---|
May 1960 | Anti-Lumumbist proposal for the flag of Congo-Léopoldville |
References
General
- 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
- ^ Jott 2010, p. 51.
- ^ Znamierowski 2003, p. 220.
- Moore & Ross 1986, p. 212.