Flag of Rwanda

The flag of Rwanda (Kinyarwanda: ibendera ry'Urwanda, French: Drapeau du Rwanda) was adopted on 25 October 2001.

Republic of Rwanda
UseNational flag Small vexillological symbol or pictogram in black and white showing the different uses of the flag Small vexillological symbol or pictogram in black and white showing the different uses of the flag Reverse side is mirror image of obverse side
Proportion2:3
AdoptedOctober 25, 2001 (2001-10-25)
DesignA horizontal tricolour of light blue (double width), yellow and green; charged with a sun-yellow sun in the upper-fly side corner
Designed byAlphonse Kirimobenecyo
Presidential standard
UseState flag Small vexillological symbol or pictogram in black and white showing the different uses of the flag Small vexillological symbol or pictogram in black and white showing the different uses of the flag Reverse side is mirror image of obverse side Flag can be hung vertically by hoisting on a normal pole, then turning the pole 90°
DesignFlag of the president of Rwanda
Rwandan flag

Details

The flag has three colours: blue, yellow, and green,[1] The light blue band represents happiness and peace, the yellow band symbolizes economic development, and the green band symbolizes the hope of prosperity. The yellow sun with 24 rays represents enlightenment.[2]

The current flag of Rwanda - whose colours resemble those of the flag of Gabon - represents national unity, respect for work, heroism, and confidence in the future. According to the state's official rationale, the flag was adopted (along with a new national anthem at the time) to avoid connotations to the 1994 genocide which it stated the previous one embodied.[3] However, some Rwandans at the time expressed doubts about the reasoning and viewed it as an attempt by the ruling Rwandan Patriotic Front to express its political power by changing state symbols.[4] The flag was designed by Alphonse Kirimobenecyo.[5]

For vertical display of the flag, the Rwandan Olympic Committee has approved showing the obverse of the flag (rotated clockwise 90 degrees.)[1]

Previous flag

Rwanda's previous flag was a red-yellow-green tricolour with a large black letter "R" (to distinguish it from the otherwise identical flag of Guinea, with the "R" indicates that Rwanda is a republic established through revolution and referendum). Derived from the flag of Ethiopia, the colours green, yellow, and red represented peace, the nation's hope for its development, and the people. The colours were associated with Pan-African colours. The flag was changed because it ostensibly became associated with the brutality of the 1994 genocide.[3][2] However, some Rwandans at the time expressed doubts about the stated reasoning and viewed this change to the flag as merely part of an attempt by the ruling Rwandan Patriotic Front to assert its political power by changing established state symbols.[6]

  • Flag of the German East Africa Company, flown by early German colonial entrepreneurs in the East African region
    Small vexillological symbol or pictogram in black and white showing the different uses of the flag Flag of the German East Africa Company, flown by early German colonial entrepreneurs in the East African region
  • Proposed flag of German East Africa which was never used due to the flag being proposed shortly before the outbreak of World War I and Germany's colonies being taken by other European powers after the war
    Small vexillological symbol or pictogram in black and white showing the different uses of the flag Proposed flag of German East Africa which was never used due to the flag being proposed shortly before the outbreak of World War I and Germany's colonies being taken by other European powers after the war
  • Flag of Belgium, used by Ruanda-Urundi (the predecessor to Rwanda)
    Small vexillological symbol or pictogram in black and white showing the different uses of the flag Flag of Belgium, used by Ruanda-Urundi (the predecessor to Rwanda)
  • Flag used after the coup of Gitarama (1961) by the republican government during the last year of the Kingdom of Rwanda
    Small vexillological symbol or pictogram in black and white showing the different uses of the flag Flag used after the coup of Gitarama (1961) by the republican government during the last year of the Kingdom of Rwanda[7][8]
  • Flag of Rwanda (September 25, 1961 – October 24, 2001). The official reason given for the 2001 change was to avoid negative connotations associated with the 1994 genocide, although this is disputed by some.
    Small vexillological symbol or pictogram in black and white showing the different uses of the flag Flag of Rwanda (September 25, 1961 – October 24, 2001). The official reason given for the 2001 change was to avoid negative connotations associated with the 1994 genocide, although this is disputed by some.

References
  1. Flags and Anthems Manual: London 2012 (PDF). London, United Kingdom: London Organising Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games. 2012. p. 88. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2015-01-04. Retrieved 4 January 2015.
  2. "Flags of the World: Rwanda". CRW Flags of the World. 20 November 2013. Retrieved 21 February 2014.
  3. Vesperini, Helen (31 December 2001). "Rwanda unveils new flag and anthem". BBC. Archived from the original on 5 November 2003. Retrieved 5 November 2003.
  4. Burnet, Jennie E. (19 November 2012). Genocide Lives in Us: Women, Memory, and Silence in Rwanda. ISBN 9780299286439. Retrieved 17 September 2021.
  5. "Flags of Africa — Countries Starting with R". Retrieved 24 March 2014.
  6. Burnet, Jennie E. (19 November 2012). Genocide Lives in Us: Women, Memory, and Silence in Rwanda. ISBN 9780299286439. Retrieved 7 May 2022.
  7. Nyrop 1969, p. 23.
  8. "What Could Have Motivated The 1961 Gitarama Coup In Rwanda?". Taarifa. 6 November 2018. Archived from the original on 7 October 2021. Retrieved 22 September 2021.
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