Last modified: 2007-01-13 by bruce berry
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image by Ben Cahoon, 20 Feb 2006
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President Joseph Kabila of the Democratic Republic of Congo promulgated a new
Congolese post-war constitution on 18 February 2006 which makes provision
of a new flag and emblem. During a ceremony at the presidential palace in
Kinshasa, February 18, 2006, the Democratic Republic of Congo adopted a new
constitution aimed at bringing an end to decades of dictatorship, war and chaos
in the vast country, and paving the way for elections by mid-2006. Further links
are given at:
http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/060218/ids_photos_wl/r2427480279.jpg
http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/060218/ids_photos_wl/r2586210504.jpg
http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/060218/481/cod10202181822
Manuel Gabino Villascán, 18 Feb 2006
I just heard on the news that the Democratic Republic of Congo has a new
constitution. The "new" flag that was raised is the same design as that used
between 1963-1971. Only the blue I believe is
lighter in colour.
Johan Ockerman, 19 Feb 2006
The symbolism of former flag during 1966-1971
was as follows :
Red for people's blood
Yellow for prosperity
Blue for hope
Star for unity
I am wondering if new flag has same symbolism?
Nozomi Kariyasu, 19 Feb 2006
Details of the new symbols of the Democratic Republic of Congo (flag and coat of arms) are given here. Symbols adopted on 18 February, 2006.
Jens Pattke, 20 Feb 2006
According to a press report here, 'The blue in the flag symbolises peace; red the blood of the country's martyrs; yellow the country's wealth; and the star a radiant future for the country.'
Devereaux Cannon, 20 Feb 2006
I just received from Mr. Roger Baert, Secrétaire de la Societas Vexillologica
Belgica, information containing some constitutional texts and images showing
the
first hoisting of the new Congolese flag. The flag appears with a diagonal
stripe from hoist-bottom to fly-top like Brunei, not like
Namibia or Tanzania.
In my opinion, this material confirms the information sent already.
Jarig Bakker, 20 Feb 2006
Article 1 of the new
constitution describes the flag as follows:
"Son embleme est le drapeau bleu ciel, orne d’une etoile jaune dans le
coin superieur gauche et traverse en biais d’une bande rouge finement encadree
de jaune".
I believe the article was not changed compared to the Constitutional proposal I
sent a few months ago which states:
"Its emblem is the sky blue flag, adorned with a yellow star in the upper left
corner and cut diagonally by a red stripe with a thin yellow frame."
From this description, it is not possible to say on which diagonal of the flag
the red stripe is placed; neither is explicitly stated the location of the star
regarding the red stripe.
Ivan Sache, 20 Feb 2006
According to the review of the press made by Charles Gba for the MONUC (Mission
of the United Nations in Congo) on 20 February 2006, the local
newspaper "Le Palmarès" reported that the national flag of Democratic
Congo was changed, as well as the colours of the FARDC (Forces Armées
de la République Démocratique du Congo - the Army) and of the National
Police.
Ivan Sache, 21 Feb 2006
After its official adoption, the new flag of the Democratic Republic of Congo
was presented to the population in the provinces. Radio Okapi (4
March 2004) reported the ceremony that took place in Bunia on Saturday, 4 March
in the morning. The flag was officially hoisted by Lola Kisanga, the Governor of
the Eastern Province. Then the authorities explained the meaning of the new
national symbols. The Commander of the FARDC (Armed Forces), the Commander of
the
National Police and the District Commissioner for Ituri were then given a
national flag by the Governor.
[Bunia is located near Lake Albert, close to the border with Uganda. Ituri was
one of the regions where the civil war was the most difficult to stop and I
guess that the news report intends to stress that the national order has been
reestablished there.]
Ivan Sache, 07 Mar 2006
image sent by Jan Mertens, 08 Dec 2006
Has anyone seen detailed photos of the national flag used in the recent
swearing-in ceremony of Joseph Kabila, new (and former) president of the
Democratic Republic of Congo?
A press photo in the Thursday 7 Dec. 2006 issue of the freely-distributed
newspaper Metro (Dutch edition) shows a detail – part of the word
‘PRESIDENT’ in yellow letters can just be made out - see photo above from the
constantly changing photos on the Presidential homepage at
http://www.presidentrdc.cd/accueil.html
It could be a flag made for the occasion, of course, rather than the official
presidential flag.
Jan Mertens, 08 Dec 2006
Seen from another angle, yet another press photo shows the words "LE
PRESI..." so there is a definite article as well.
Jan Mertens, 22 Dec 2006
Not that I am placing a huge amount of credence in news photo captions,
but for whatever it is worth, several of the photos show President
Kabila holding the flag while taking his oath of office, with the
caption stating he is taking the oath holding the national flag [my
emphasis]. If accurate, that would support the earlier conjecture that
it may have been an ordinary flag especially embroidered for the
occasion.
Ned Smith, 22 Dec 2006
