Flag of DR Congo – Colors, Meaning, History ??

The Democratic Republic of Congo is one of the largest countries in Africa. Their flag is a tricolor of blue, red, and yellow, with the yellow representing the abundant wealth of the country. This flag is not only a symbol of sovereignty and independence but also of the strength of the people. DR Congo adopted its flag in 2006 under the administration of Joseph Kabila.

History of the Flag of DR Congo

DR Congo is a country with a deep history and a troubled past. It is home to human remains that date as far back as 90,000 years ago. Before colonization, the country was home to the Kingdom of Kongo with established cities such as Luba, Kuba, and Lunda. The Portuguese were the earliest settlers to engage with the Kingdom. They traded for slaves with King Afonso I between 1506-1543. As the demand for slavery increased, the Kongo people would participate in raids in neighboring communities. From 1500 to 1850, the region experienced intensive slavery that created a deep crisis in the kingdom.

The Belgian colonization of DR Congo began after the arrival of the explorer Henry Morton Stanley. In 1885 King Leopold II established and ruled the Congo Free State. Taking control of such a vast territory was not without its challenges. Outposts were set up across the Free State with the Force Publique (the colonial army) in a bid to bring the territory under control. The flag at the time had a dark blue background with a yellow five-pointed star at the center. The golden star represented the shining light on the ‘Dark continent.’ King Leopold II established colonial propaganda of white people toiling under the African sun to build roads, schools, hospitals, and missionaries in the country. This propaganda masked the exploitation and atrocious mass killings that were taking place. The United States was the first foreign power to recognize this flag.

On 30th June 1960, DR Congo gained independence. Months leading up to freedom, the Congolese had already elected a President by the name Joseph Kasavubu. The flag with the blue background and yellow star was still in use in Belgian Congo. At the time, there was a scramble for the newly independent, non-aligned nations between the Soviet and the United States. The Eisenhower administration hoped that the newly independent country would become a stable, pro-western government. However, this was never realized as immediately after independence, the Force Publique mutinied against their Belgian colonizers.

Belgian Congo was a troubled country after independence. The Congolese National Army attacked the Belgians who were still in the country. As the African elites sought power, the flag was changed to incorporate six small stars at the far left side of the flag. This became the flag of the established Congo-Léopoldville, from 30th June 1960 to 1963. A short-rival government was set up in Eastern Congo. This government was under Antoine Gizenga, who seized the opportunity after the disposition of Prime Minister Patrice Lumumba. Within four years after independence, the country has established a series of Prime Ministers. Lumumba was murdered on 19th January 1971. This, in turn, precipitated the formation of a short-lived rival government known as Congo-Stanleyville under Antoine Gizenga. This government adopted the same flag with six stars on the side and the bigger star at the center. The stars represent the six provinces in the country.

In 1963, the provinces were altered. This change led to a modification of the flag. The six stars at the side were removed in favor of a red diagonal stripe at the center, which was used between 1966 t0 1971. The stripe is bordered with yellow lines on each side. A massive golden-colored star was placed on the upper hoist corner. When Mobutu Sese Seko established his dictatorial rule, the flag was still in use. However, the star was made smaller, and the yellow-bordered red horizontal stripe more full. In 1971, Mobutu changed the name of the country to the Republic of Zaire, and a new flag was adopted. It consisted of a green background with a yellow circle at the center. Within the ring is a hand of a Congolese holding up a torch. This flag was used in the first Congo war. However, Mobutu was overthrown by a rebel leader Laurent-Désiré Kabila. Kabila was an admirer of Patrice Lumumba, the Prime Minister of the Free Congo from June to September 1960. He ordered that Lumumba’s flag replace Mobutu’s flag on 17th May 1997. The newly installed flag held no symbolism to the situation on the ground. Whereas the flag had six stars that represented six provinces, the country had eight regions. Still, the flag rekindled the country’s original hopes for freedom and prosperity.

In 2001, Kabila’s son replaced his father after an assassination. The new President proclaimed the country as the third republic on 18th February 2006. The national flag of 1963 to 1966 became the official flag again with some slight modifications.

What is the Meaning Behind the Colors of the Flag of DR Congo?

The national flag consists of three primary colors, red-yellow-blue. Unlike the 1963-1966 original version of the flag, this new version has a lighter shade of blue in the background.

Colors
The precise meaning of the colors is as follows:

Blue: Peace
Red: The bloodshed of the martyrs who fought for independence
Yellow: The wealth of the nation
The star located in the flag is a symbol of unity

However, during Mobutu Sese Seko’s reign, the features of the flag had a different meaning. The yellow meant prosperity, the red represented the blood of the people, whereas the blue symbolized hope.
To the people, the flag is a reminder of the country’s troubled past. It is a symbol of their resilience as well as their hope for a prosperous future.

Emblem
At the center of the flag is a five-pointed yellow star. This star is a symbol of the unity of all the provinces and people that make up DR Congo as well as the future of the nation.

Shape
The height of the flag of DR Congo is equal to ⅔ of the length. Therefore, if the height is 150cm, the length is 225cm. The proportion is 3:4. The diagonal stripe has a width of 16cm. The yellow fimbriations that border the red stripe are each 5cm wide. The diameter of the yellow star is 65cm. Its center is the meeting point of three lines that bisect the angles formed above the diagonal stripe.

Interesting facts about the Flag of DR Congo

The colors red and yellow in the flag of DR Congo are also shared with the Republic of Congo. However, the yellow in the flag of the Republic of Congo represents friendship and nobility, whereas the red remains unexplained
The President has a similar banner with an added inscription that states, “Le President.”
Multiple versions of the flag have appeared throughout history with slight variances in colors, the width of the red stripe, and the size of the star.
In May 1960, the Federalists proposed a different flag for Congo-Léopoldville. This flag consisted of tricolors white, green, and red with a white five-pointed star. This flag was recommended by an anti-Lumumba federalist group. However, due to the political volatility at the time the flag was never adopted.
From 1960-1963, there was a breakaway state known as the state of Katanga. This state had its flag, a tri-colored red, green, and white. The far right of the flag was the white color with three red crosses. This new state was established on 11th July 1960 under the leadership of Moise Tshombe. Conversely, this state did not last long and became defunct state in 1963.
From 1960 to 1962, there was a secessionist state within DR Congo with its own flag. This flag consisted of red and green horizontal stripes with a thin, yellow-colored V-shape at the center. The state was known as South Kasai.
The country does not have a flag day. Instead, they celebrate Independence Day on 30th June. On this day, the flag is hoisted on government buildings and public institutions.
The adoption of the flag in 2006 was a bid to revive the people’s hope for a better and more prosperous future. This is why all the colors of the flag have a positive meaning. Also, the flag seeks to solidify nationalism in the country while reminding the people of their freedom from the colonial past.
After the flag was officially adopted in 2006, the new flag was presented to the people in each province. It was formally hoisted by Lola Kisanga, the Governor of the Eastern Province. The authorities were assigned the task of explaining the flag to the people. Also, the commander of the Armed forces, the District Commissioner of Ituri, and the Commander of the National Police all received the national flag from the governor of the Eastern province on that day. Ituri is a region in DR Congo. This region is famous because it was difficult to stop the civil war that ravaged the territory. When the new president came to power with a new flag, the government felt that Ituri was one of the main places where social order had to be re-established.
Some preferred a red-green-white flag derived from the pan-African colors. However, after the 1996 government was overthrown, that idea was abandoned in favor of the flag with six-pointed stars and one massive star at the center.
DR was formerly known as Zaire and is popularly known as Congo-Kinshasa. Its flag is one of the ways that the country distinguishes itself from the Republic of Congo.