The national flag of

Djibouti Djibouti, ar, جيبوتي ', french: link=no, Djibouti, so, Jabuuti officially the Republic of Djibouti, is a country in the Horn of Africa, bordered by Somalia to the south, Ethiopia to the southwest, Eritrea in the north, and the Red ...

( so, Calanka Jabuuti, ar, علم جيبوتي, french: Drapeau de Djibouti) is a horizontal flag bicolor with equal bands of light blue and light green, with a white, equilateral triangle at the hoist. In the center of the triangle is a red star. The flag combines the basic layout and colors from the flag of the Front de Libération de la Côte des Somalis. The light blue represents the sky and the sea, as well as the

Somalis The Somalis ( so, Soomaalida 𐒈𐒝𐒑𐒛𐒐𐒘𐒆𐒖, ar, صوماليون) are an ethnic group native to the Horn of Africa who share a common ancestry, culture and history. The Lowland East Cushitic Somali language is the shared ...

, green represents the everlasting green of the earth, as well as the Afars, white represents the colour of peace and the five point red star represents unity, the blood shed by the martyrs of independence, as well as Djibouti being one of the five regions inhabited by the Somali people.

History

Beginning in the mid-19th century before the establishment of the French Somaliland, other flags were used as the flag of the

Ottoman Empire The Ottoman Empire, * ; is an archaic version. The definite article forms and were synonymous * and el, Оθωμανική Αυτοκρατορία, Othōmanikē Avtokratoria, label=none * info page on book at Martin Luther University) ...

, Sultanate of Tajoura and as well religious flags. During the French Somaliland and

French Territory of the Afars and the Issas The French Territory of the Afars and the Issas (FTAI; french: Territoire français des Afars et des Issas) was the name given to present-day Djibouti between 1967 and 1977, while it was still an overseas territory of France. The area was former ...

, the only ensign used was the tricolor. The flag was created and designed by the

Front for the Liberation of the Somali Coast Front may refer to: Arts, entertainment, and media Films * ''The Front'' (1943 film), a 1943 Soviet drama film * '' The Front'', 1976 film Music *The Front (band), an American rock band signed to Columbia Records and active in the 1980s and e ...

(FLCS) as the party official flag in the 1960s, which was guerrilla group who fought for the independence of Djibouti from France. With the help of Ligue Populaire Africaine pour l'Indépendance (LPAI) to independence in 1977. The Djiboutian flag was raised for the first time upon independence on 27 June 1977, by the head of police Yacine Yabeh Galab. It is today flown on many governmental buildings.

Characteristics

Specifically, this flag consists of two horizontal bands blue and green, and a white isosceles triangle located on the side of the pole. In the middle of the triangle, a red five-pointed star appears. The meaning of this flag is also found in the national anthem of Djibouti, with some differences: * * * * In the middle of the triangle, a red five-pointed star symbolizes national unity.

Color

Note: as there is no official standard, the below are approximations.

Historical flags

The following are the flags historically used in the territory of present-day Djibouti: Ethiopian Pennants.svg, Flag of the

Ethiopian Empire The Ethiopian Empire (), also formerly known by the exonym Abyssinia, or just simply known as Ethiopia (; Amharic and Tigrinya: ኢትዮጵያ , , Oromo: Itoophiyaa, Somali: Itoobiya, Afar: ''Itiyoophiyaa''), was an empire that histori ...

Flag of Adal Sultanate.svg, Flag of the

Adal Sultanate The Adal Sultanate, or the Adal Empire or the ʿAdal or the Bar Saʿad dīn (alt. spelling ''Adel Sultanate, ''Adal ''Sultanate'') () was a medieval Sunni Muslim Empire which was located in the Horn of Africa. It was founded by Sabr ad-Din II ...

(1415–1577) Flag of Ottoman Empire (1517-1793).svg, Flag of the

(1577–1793), used when

Habesh Eyalet , common_name = Habesh Eyalet , subdivision = Eyalet , nation = the Ottoman Empire , year_start = 1554 , year_end = 1872 , life_span = , date_start = ...

included part of present-day Djibouti. Flag of the Ottoman Empire (eight pointed star).svg, Flag of the Ottoman Empire (1793–1844). Flag of the Ottoman Empire.svg, Flag of the Ottoman Empire (1844–1883). Flag of Muhammad Ali.svg, Flag of the

Khedivate of Egypt The Khedivate of Egypt ( or , ; ota, خدیویت مصر ') was an autonomous tributary state of the Ottoman Empire, established and ruled by the Muhammad Ali Dynasty following the defeat and expulsion of Napoleon Bonaparte's forces which br ...

(1874–1881), used when the Khedivate's Somali Coast included part of present-day Djibouti. Flag of Egypt (1882-1922).svg, Flag of the Khedivate of Egypt (1881–1883). Ru russiasomaliland-sagallo.gif, Flag of the Russian Sagallo (6 January 1889–5 February 1889) Flag of France (1794–1815, 1830–1958).svg, Flag of

France France (), officially the French Republic ( ), is a country primarily located in Western Europe. It also comprises of overseas regions and territories in the Americas and the Atlantic, Pacific and Indian Oceans. Its metropolitan area ...

, used between 1896 and 1940 and between 1944 and 1958, as French Somaliland is the predecessor to today's Djibouti. Flag of Philippe Pétain, Chief of State of Vichy France.svg, Flag of

Vichy France Vichy France (french: Régime de Vichy; 10 July 1940 – 9 August 1944), officially the French State ('), was the fascist French state headed by Marshal Philippe Pétain during World War II. Officially independent, but with half of its te ...

(1940–1942). Flag of the United Kingdom.svg, Flag of

United Kingdom The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom (UK) or Britain, is a country in Europe, off the north-western coast of the European mainland, continental mainland. It comprises England, Scotlan ...

, used between 1942 and 1943, as French Somaliland was occupied by British Troops. Flag of Free France (1940-1944).svg, Flag of

Free France Free France (french: France Libre) was a political entity that claimed to be the legitimate government of France following the dissolution of the Third Republic. Led by French general , Free France was established as a government-in-exile ...

(1943–1944) Flag of France.svg, Flag of France (1958–1977).

References

External links