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![[Variant]](../misc/fis_vari.gif){kind=small}
2:3~ image by Željko Heimer, 07 Feb 2007 - click here
for an animated image
Flag adopted 25 October 2001
From the Rwandan Embassy in Paris:
NEW FLAG OF THE RWANDAN REPUBLIC
The new flag of the Rwandan republic is composed of three colours: green,
yellow and blue.
The green colour symbolizes the hope of prosperity thanks to rational
exploitation of the force of Rwandan people and the resources of the country.
The yellow colour symbolizes the economic development. The Rwandan
people must settle to work so as to reach durable economic development.
The blue colour symbolizes happiness and peace. The Rwandan people
must fight for peace which will bring them to durable economic development
and happiness.
The sun and its rays of golden color: It symbolizes the light which
enlightens gradually all the people. This translates the unity, transparency
and fight against ignorance.
The new flag was designed by Alphonse Kirimobenecyo, a Rwandan artist
and engineer.
Armand du Payrat, 03 Jan 2002
The new flag and anthem of the Rwandan Republic has been launched today (on
31 December 2001).
The flag corresponds roughly to the previous reports - blue-green and
rising sun. However, the blue and green fields are separated by a yellow
stripe and the sun is not rising. The flag has three horizontal stripes,
blue, yellow and green (2:1:1). In the upper fly (!) there is a yellow
sun with ca. 24 rays.
The image of the flag seems to have 1:2 ratio but the sun is a little
bit horizontally elliptical - so I guess the image is somewhat distorted,
elongated horizontally, so that the sun should in fact be circular and
the flag ratio ~2:3.
Jan Zrzavy, 31 Dec 2001
Rwanda flag is in proportion of 2:3.
Pantones are:
Blue 3005c
Green 3415c
Yellow 109c
Sun yellow 130 c
(Note - two yellow shades!)
Source: SAVA Newsletter, quoting the official flag law of Rwanda.
Jaume Ollé, 18 Jun 2002
There is no doubt - the ratio of 6:13 was, as far as I know, a mistake
by the Rwandan Embassy in Paris. The proportions are officially 2:3 according
to Chapter One, Article 4 of an Act dated 25 October 2001 (amending Article
7 of the Constitution adopted 10 June 1991), and published in a Special
Edition of the Official Gazette on 31 December 2001. The construction
diagram therein contained shows that the sun is not centrally located between
the top of the flag and the base on the stripe. it gives a size for the
outer rays and inner disk of the sun, and its exact position on the flag.
It also, as does every other Official source, show the sun with its top
ray upright and not offset, but does not give a width for the blue ring
around the central disk.
Christopher Southworth, 31 Mar 2004
NEWS - 25 October 2001
"Amendment of the Fundamental Law of the Republic of Rwanda and provisions of the bill on the National Flag
Parliamentarians voted on Thursday the amendment of the Fundamental Law of the Republic of Rwanda. They also voted provisions of the bill on the National Flag.
While on amendment of the Fundamental Law, the first, second and third paragraph of article three of the June 10, 1991 Constitution were modified as follows:
The National Flag is made of three colors : green, yellow and blue. These colours are arranged in ascending order starting with green then yellow and finally blue colors. Both green and yellow colors cover half the whole flag. The other half, the upper side of the flag, is painted blue on which sun and its rays are designed.
a) From the right hand side, there is a golden yellow color.
b) The motto of the Republic of Rwanda is "Unity, Work and Patriotism".
c) The Seal of the Republic of Rwanda is made of a green circle, which from a rope in green, makes a knot on the lower side. On the upper side are read imprints: REPUBLIC OF RWANDA; beneath the knot are found the imprints showing the motto of the Republic: Unity, Work and Patriotism. These imprints are written in black on a yellow background color.
This Seal also includes the sun and its rays, sorghum, plant and coffee tree, basket, blue-cogged wheel and two shields one on the right and the other on the left".
Source: This
website.
Jan Oskar Engene, 26 Oct 2001
I found a news reports from AFP and basically containing the same information concerning a development in the Rwandan flag change process. Nothing seems to be finally decided yet, but the reports are nevertheless interesting in my opinion.
From this newspage:
"NEWS IN BRIEF", Wednesday August 29, 2001
NEW FLAG, NEW FACE FOR RWANDA
THE Rwandan government has unveiled plans for a new flag, new
national anthem and new emblem, the pro government newspaper New Times
has revealed. The new flag will be yellow, green and blue, the newspaper
said on Monday, quoting Joseph Nsengimana, an advisor to President
Paul Kagame. Rwanda's current flag is red, yellow and green. Nsengimana
said the yellow would symbolize economic growth, green would represent
prosperity and blue would depict good fortune and optimism.
The new national emblem would be composed of several symbols, including
a green ring illustrating Rwandan unity and two shields representing patriotism.
The lyrics for the new national anthem have been composed by prisoners
in the southern town of Butare.
Rwandans have long held that the flag should be replaced as the colour
red is associated with bloodshed that has characterized the country since independence, culminating in the 1994 genocide in
which between 500 000 and 800 000 Tutsis and moderate Hutus were killed
by Hutu extremists.
AFP"
Jan Oskar Engene, 16 Oct 2001
Today I have received an answer from a visitor. (My translation:)
"About the change of the flag of Rwanda, it is true that there will
be a change of the Rwandese national anthem and national flag, we are awaiting
these changes maybe for the end of this year. If you want I'll keep you
informed of these changes as soon as I know them"
Pascal Gross, 7 Dec 2001
The special convention of the ruling Patriotic Front of Rwanda (December
23-24, 2001) has re-elected President Paul Kagame its Chairman, elected
Christophe Bazimavo a new vice-chairman, and officially announced that
new emblem, flag, and anthem would be launched on December 31, 2001.
Jan Zrzavy, 27 Dec 2001
On the Rwandan national flag, the discussion which took
place at the time the new flag was emerging about its exact
ratio, colours and arrangement of the sun: Firstly, I wonder whether there
is much point in keeping this here when the flag is now well known and established.
Wandering around the Rwandan government websites got me to the Constitution,
which says the following about the flag:
"Article 6
"The national symbols of Rwanda are the flag, the motto, the seal and the
national anthem.
"The national flag is made up of three colours : green, yellow and blue.
"The flag comprises the following colours from the bottom to the top : a
green strip, followed by a yellow strip both of which cover half the flag.
The upper half is blue and bears on its right hand side the image of the sun
with its rays of golden yellow. The sun and its rays are separated by a blue
ring.
"The law determines the characteristics, significance, usage and ceremonials
of the national flag."
André Coutanche, 07 Feb 2007
![[Rwanda police flag]](../images/r/rw^pol.jpg){kind=small}
from this site, reported by Dov
Gutterman, 16 Jul 2005.
I'm afraid I am suspicious of the flag shown above since it consists of a
badge on a square (and
bezelled) button. Visiting the Police website
now only shows the badge and I can't find a flag at all. Dov, have you got
evidence that it was an actual flag?
André Coutanche, 07 Feb 2007
Brief information on the *preceding* police and gendarmerie emblems/flags can
be found in Drapeaux et Insignes de Police et de Gendarmerie by Michel
Lupant (volume 2, mars 1995; 162 pages, 300 dessins) (Police and Gendarmerie
Flags and Insignia Vol. 2, March 1995, 162 p., 300 ill.) Self-
published.
Pages 149-150 mention and show:
Police shield: blue; eagle, bow, arrows (and name, jm) white; national flag in
colour: b/w fig. 265 in Michel's book on p. 150 but also seen
here, second in second
row:
"Police Nationale" meaning, of course, National Police. No flag is mentioned,
but a sort of flag presence nevertheless.
Gendarmerie flag: national flag with the Gendarmerie shield in place of the
black 'R'. Described pp. 149-150 and shown as fig. 266 on p. 150 comprising
shield and flag.
No picture to be found on the net, alas. Basically, clasped hands in gold and
also green twigs appeared on a shield of burgundy. On scrolls were written the
words 'REPUBLIQUE RWANDAISE' (draped over top of shield) and 'GENDARMERIE
NATIONALE' (in base of shield, these words separated
by a tiny national flag).
As to the current situation, Dov's dove is there - at least on the shield. At
http://www.police.gov.rw/ there is no
information on symbols (or the continued existence of gendarmerie) though.
Jan Mertens, 07 Feb 2007