Congo - Constitution and National Anthem

Last modified: 2005-05-28 by Željko heimer
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• National Flag in the Constitution
• National Flag in the National Anthem

• Congo

National Flag in the Constitution

I haven't located the law that "states the dimensions, the colour shades and the other details of the flag" (if it exsists at all) on the Net. L'Album gives ratio of the flags as 2:3~, while, e.g. Bartram's World Flag Database and Shipmate Flag Chart have it 2:3 exactly. If we would have the mentioned law we would know for sure, I guess...
However, even this unusual tricolour retains the main feature of a tricolour - three stripes of equal area (symbolizing the equality). This is aquired only with the requirement that the yellow stripe have the horizontal edges equal to 1/3 of the total length. In case that the flag is exactly 2:3, that would make the red and green triangles not only rectangular (as required by Constitution) but also isoscales.
Željko Heimer, 26 May 2001

The 1992 Constitution has been abolished in 1997 and replaced by a Fundamental Act. Its Article 2 says:

Article 2. L'emblème national de la République est le Drapeau tricolore, Vert, Jaune, Rouge - De forme rectangulaire, il est composé de deux triangles de couleur verte et rouge, séparés par une bande jaune en diagonale, le vert étant du côté de la hampe. L'hymne national est "La Congolaise". La devise de la République est "Unité - Travail - Progrès". La langue officielle est le français. Le sceau de l'État et les Armoiries sont définies par la loi.

Article 2. The national emblem of the republic is the green, yellow, red tricolour. Of rectabgular shape, its made of two triangles, green and red separated by a yellow diagonal stripe, the green being on the hoist. The national anthem is "La Congolaise". The national motto is "Unité - Travail - Progrès". The official language is French. The state seal and the coat of arms are defined by Law.

There is no more mention of a flag law. And the constitution description gives many graphical possibilities...
J.-F. Blanc, 6 August 2001

There is a newer Constitution for the Republic of the Congo. It is dated 20 January 2002 and reads as follows regarding the flag:

Title l, Article 5:

"The national emblem is a tricolour flag in green, yellow and red. In a rectangular form, it is composed of two regular triangles of green and red separated by a diagonal yellow stripe. The green part is next to the hoist.
The precise dimensions, colour shades and other details of the flag are prescribed by law."

I have been unable to locate any legislation regarding this flag (as referred to in the Constitution of 1992). I have, however, managed to obtain an official model. The model itself (containing no surprises) is unfortunately undated, but the accompanying letter from The Ministry of Information, Brazzaville is dated 2 December 1999 and shows a flag with a rising diagonal stripe contained entirely within the length of the flag and occupying one-third of that length. I have, of course, no way of confirming the accuracy of its colour reproduction, but when compared to my Pantone chart the nearest equivalents appear to be red 032, yellow 109 and green 354.

Christopher Southworth, 30 January 2005

National Flag in the National Anthem