Flag of Mozambique
Mozambique's flag has green, black and yellow stripes edged in white, and a red triangle at the pole with a yellow star, an open book, a hoe and a rifle.
At a glance
- Adopted
- May 1, 1983
- Shape (height : width)
- 2:3
- Capital
- Maputo
- Continent
- Africa
- Colours
- green
- black
- gold-yellow
- red
- white
What it means
- Red: resistance to colonial rule, the fight for freedom and defending the country
- Green: the land and its farm wealth
- Black: the African continent
- Yellow: the mineral riches under the ground
- White: peace and the justice of the people's struggle
- Star: international solidarity
- Book, hoe and rifle: education, food production, and defence
Where it came from
The flag is based on the first flag of FRELIMO, the movement that led the fight for independence from Portugal and has governed since independence on 25 June 1975. The country's constitution describes the flag and what each part means, but it does not fix exact shades.
History
From 1975 to 1983 Mozambique used a different flag with four diagonal stripes and a white cogwheel. The current flag, closer to the old FRELIMO flag, was adopted on 1 May 1983.
In 2005 there was a competition for a new flag, with 169 entries, mainly because some people wanted the rifle removed. Parliament voted to keep the flag as it is.
Fun facts
- It is the only national flag in the world with a modern rifle on it; the rifle is usually identified as an AK-47.
- The rifle has a bayonet and crosses a farmer's hoe.
- In 2005, parliament voted 155 to 79 to keep the flag unchanged.
- The constitution names five colours but never says exactly which shade of each to use.
Easy to mix up with
South Africa: South Africa also has green, black, yellow and white, but its colours make a sideways Y shape
Questions
What does the flag of Mozambique look like?
Mozambique's flag has green, black and yellow stripes edged in white, and a red triangle at the pole with a yellow star, an open book, a hoe and a rifle.
What do the colours and symbols on the flag of Mozambique mean?
Red: resistance to colonial rule, the fight for freedom and defending the country; Green: the land and its farm wealth; Black: the African continent; Yellow: the mineral riches under the ground; White: peace and the justice of the people's struggle; Star: international solidarity; Book, hoe and rifle: education, food production, and defence.
When was the flag of Mozambique adopted?
The current flag of Mozambique was adopted on May 1, 1983.
What colours are on the flag of Mozambique?
The flag of Mozambique uses green, black, gold-yellow, red and white.
Which flag is easy to mix up with the flag of Mozambique?
It is easy to mix up with the flag of South Africa. South Africa also has green, black, yellow and white, but its colours make a sideways Y shape
Famous landmarks in Mozambique
🎯 Play the flag quiz 🌍 Play the globe
Sources
- en.wikipedia.org
- crwflags.com
- Flag picture: flagcdn.com (Wikimedia Commons)