Somalia is a country in East Africa, which as a result of civil wars fell apart and was put back together again. Along with the historical events, the symbolism has also changed.
This is what the modern flag of Somalia looks like:
History of the flag
In the XV-XVI centuries the territory of modern Somalia was occupied by the Sultanate of Adal, whose flag was a vertical cloth on which there were three vertical stripes – the central one was red and the outer ones were white. On each of them were three crescents of the same color (white on red, red on white).
The other part of the state was occupied by the Ajuran Imamate, which existed from the 13th to the 17th century. Its flag had an unusual form – triangular. Its entire area was divided into two triangles – red and yellow, and at the stem there was a white crescent.
In the 16th century the territory belonged to the Ottoman Empire, so its flag, turned into a red rounded triangle with a yellow crescent, was used as the state flag.
In the 19th century, there was a state of dervishes (monks and ascetics) in the north of the country; its flag was a rectangular green cloth with a red rectangle in the center.
From 1861 to 1946 part of the state belonged to Italy and had the same flag as the metropolis, only with the image of a coat of arms – red with a white cross in a blue frame.
In 1903, the British Somali was formed, which had a blue flag with a Union Jack at the top corner at the staff and an antelope in a white circle at the free right end.
In 1950 its place was taken by the coat of arms of the colony, which was corrected in 1952.
The modern flag was officially adopted in 1960, but Mohamed Awal Liban created it six years before that.
Description
It is a single-color rectangular cloth, in the center of which is a five-pointed star. The aspect ratio of the banner is 2:3.
Flag colors
It has two colors – white and blue.
Meaning of colors and flag symbol
The blue was taken as a sign of gratitude from the flag of the United Nations, which made a great contribution to the liberation of Somalia from Italy. It also symbolizes the peaceful sky.
White in heraldry represents purity.
The star represents freedom, and its five ends represent the five regions of the country.
Other Flags
There are self-proclaimed states on the territory of the Somali Republic that have their own symbols:
- Avdaland – three vertical stripes, the central one – white, wider than the extreme ones – blue. It has a blue outline of a crescent moon and a five-pointed star.
- Azania is a tricolor with white, blue, and red stripes arranged horizontally.
Flag of Azania - Galmudug – blue with a green triangle with a white outline at the stem, on it – a crescent and a white star.
- Jubaland is a tricolor with green, blue, and white horizontal stripes. The center one of the tops of a blue triangle with a white star on it “dissolves” on the left side.
- Northland is identical to the official one.
- Maahir is like the state, but with white and black stripes on the bottom.
- Puntland is tricolor with blue, white and green horizontal stripes, with a white star on the top.
- Somaliland is a tricolor with green, white and red horizontal stripes, with a white Arabic phrase on the top and a green star on the center.
- Southwest Somalia – two triangles, blue at the stem, green at the free edge, separated by a red stripe. The left triangle has a white star, the right triangle has six white stars arranged in a circle.
The Republic is proud of its history and its flag, which appeared with the finalization of independence.
General information about Somalia
| Official language | Somali and Arabic |
| Capital | Mogadishu |
| Territory | 637,657 km² |
| Population | 12,316,895 people |
| Currency | Somali shilling |
| Phone Code | +252 |
