Congo Flag - Democratic Republic of the

The flag of the Democratic Republic of the Congo was adopted on 20 February 2006. It consists of a sky blue field adorned with a yellow star in the upper left canton and cut diagonally by a red stripe with a thin yellow frame. he previous flag was adopted in 1997. It is similar to the flag used between 1960 and 1963 at the time of independence from Belgium.

The original independence flag consisted of a sky blue field with six gold stars rising vertically at the hoist with a larger star in centre field. Originally representing the six provinces of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, it had to be altered as the number of provinces grew. In 1963 the stars were consolidated into the larger one the field was darkened, and the diagonal red stripe with a thin yellow frame was introduced. It would be slightly altered again by the Mobutu dictatorship who changed the location and size of the star. The red symbolized the people's blood; the yellow symbolized prosperity; the blue symbolized hope; and the star represented unity.

They would also change the flag again in 1971 when they experimented with the concept of re-Africanizing the country as Zaire. This new nation would fly a green field with a yellow disc in centre field. Mounted on the disk was a arm bearing the torch of African freedom. This experiment ended in 1997 with the reintroduction of the six star flag and Mobutu's overthrow.

A new constitution in 2006 mandated the return of the design flown between 1963 and 1971. Only the shade of blue would change form royal to sky blue. New definitions of colours now state that blue recognises peace, red, blood of the nation's martyrs, teal the country's wealth, and the star a radiant future.

Flag Measures 36 in x 60 in and is 100% polyester with grommets for easy flying.