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Jan-Patrick Fischer, 23 Dec 2009
Puntland is a self-proclaimed state within Somalia. It was founded in Garowe, with a Charter signed by the leaders of Sool, Southern and Eastern Sanaag Regions and Buhoodle District.
On Tuesday, 22 December 2009, the Puntland Parliament adopted a new flag as
the state's symbol. With more than 33 votes in favour, the Puntland Parliament
has
showed that the state is ready to strengthen its political dimension as part of
the Somali federation.
It is the first time the self declared state has adopted distinctive state
symbols, since it's creation in 1998.
The Puntland constitution states that the regional administration should have
it's own flag and anthem, as part of the Federal Republic of Somalia. The
flag and anthem of the state was selected by a commission of state officials and Puntland intellectuals.
The minister of Constitution and Federal Affairs of Puntland, Dr.Jima'ale, who
chaired the commission presented the selected flag and state anthem to the
parliament. Members of Parliament rejected the proposed anthem, but approved the
flag and the state emblem.
The new flag consists of the three horizontal stripes in blue, white and green:
The blue stripe with the white star symbolize the Somali
flag; of which Puntland is part.
The central white stripe symbolizes the peace and stability of the region.
The green stripe symbolizes the natural wealth of the Puntland State.
Jens Pattke, 23 Dec 2009
image
by Željko Heimer, 20 Jan 2003
From http://www.puntlandnet.com (link is outdated), this was what is said about the flag:
Dov Gutterman, 19 Feb 1999Article 3 The Flag, Emblem and Anthem of Puntland. 3.1 The flag, emblem and anthem of Puntland will provisionally remain those of the former Somalia Republic pending the adoption of the Puntland flag, emblem and anthem within 12 months of the approval of this Charter.
I have seen a flag for Puntland which is different from the former state
of Somalia from which it seceded in 1998. The flag is a horizontal tricolour
of green - white - red. In the hoist side there is a blue triangle with
a white star like the Somalia flag. The flag may also be the same as the
Western Somalia Liberation Front. There is a detail of this flag on this
website - at the bottom right hand corner of the page.
James Frankcom, 22 Apr 2003
If I don't remember wrong this flag was also published in the last issue
of Francia Vexilla attributed to Puntland, but I believe that is a mistake;
however the Ogadeni clan and the Majurtini clan may be related in any form
(I don't know much of the complex inter-clan relations in the former Somalia
and neighbouring Somali territories) and may have adopted the same flag.
Jaume Ollé, 23 Apr 2003
Both "Majurtini"and Ogadeni are clans of the Darod group (or clan...).
The Darods are the main Somalian group (75% of all Somali people, the others
being Digil-Rahanweins, Hawiye-Sabs, Issas, Dir-Gedabursis, Garreh-Ajurans,
etc). The Puntland is the land of the Mijurtinis (the region - Bari &
Nugal - was first called Migiurtina by Italians = ? Miyurtina in English,
Mijourtine in French). Ogadenis are also in Somalia but mainly in
the Ogaden
(Ethiopia) and also in
Kenya.
The only flag of Puntland I have saw is the Somali flag itself but
with a paler blue. The logo shown on the page concerns the liberation front
of Western Somalia ( = "State of Somali" in Ethiopia = Ogaden). Not like
Somaliland, Puntland which official name is actually Republic of "Puntland
State of Somalia", has not the aim of independence but of forming a
confederation when things improve.
Since things are still not going better and Somalia is still a no-state
country, Puntland can be considered actually independent since 1992 (1998
for the declaration of "no secession"...) like other "States" in Hiranland,
Jubaland, etc.
Jean-Marc Merklin, 24 Apr 2003
A lighter shade of blue is shown on
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Puntland for the flag of Puntland - a lighter
blue than the Somalia flag.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Flag_of_Somalia_Sky_Blue.svg mentions the
last change as being "Updated flag color to the correct color."
Ben Cahoon, 08 May 2008
On May 25, 2009, the Council of Ministers in
Somalia's self-governing State of Puntland voted and approved unanimously the
region's new constitution, which
envisions a separate state flag and anthem. The constitution is open now
to debate in the Parliament and will come into effect after the ratification
process.
The flag proposals can be seen at
http://allidamaale.com/July/FikradaCalankaa.htm and
http://yusufcawad.blogspot.com/2009/07/waa-calanka-dowlada-puntland-puntland.html.
Chrystian Kretowicz, 05 Oct 2009
Quoting Mohammed Omar Hussein of the
"Somaliweyn Media Center", 13 December 2009:
"The Somali Transitional Federal Government has clearly stated that the
semi-autonomous region of Puntland in eastern Somalia has the right to obtain
its own Flag.
Madobe Mohammed Nunow, the Minister for Constitution and Federal Affairs of the
Somali Transitional Federal government, speaking to one of the local radio
stations in Mogadishu, has at length talked about the establishment of a new
flag for the semi-autonomous region of Puntland.
“According to the central
constitution of the Somali Transitional Federal Government, Puntland has the
permission to have its own independent flag, you know the government is
Federalism system, and bear in mind it doesn’t mean that by obtaining a new flag
Puntland is independent from the rest of Somalia. The Flag of Puntland is the
Somali blue Flag which has the white star in the middle” said Madobe, the Somali
Constitution Minister".
The Somali President his Excellency Sheikh Shariff Sheikh Ahmed was the first
declare that his government will endorse the establishment of a new flag by the
semi-autonomous state of Puntland." (Source:
http://www.somaliweyn.org/pages/news/Dec_09/14Dec13.html)
However, the decision will probably have very little practical consequence, if
any, since the Somali Transitional Federal Government only controls a tiny part
of Mogadishu.
Puntland does not claim independence from Somalia. The official website of the
Government of Puntland shows the flag and arms of Somalia, as well as photos
with the flag.
Ivan Sache, 16 Dec 2009
image by Ivan Sache, 16 Dec 2009
"I have seen a flag for Puntland
which is different from the former state of Somalia from which it seceded in
1998. The flag is a horizontal tricolour of green - white - red. In the hoist
side there is a blue triangle with a white star like the Somalia flag. The flag
may also be the same as the Western Somalia Liberation Front.
James Frankcom, 22 Apr 2003
The flag proposals can be seen at
http://allidamaale.com/July/FikradaCalankaa.htm and
http://yusufcawad.blogspot.com/2009/07/waa-calanka-dowlada-puntland-puntland.html.
Chrystian Kretowicz, 05 Oct 2009
The first page, dated 30 June 2009,
shows seven flags. Since I cannot read the language, there is very little
background I can add to the
images the images on
http://allidamaale.com/July/FikradaCalankaa.htm, which are shown below:
image by Ivan Sache, 16 Dec 2009
Flag horizontally divided light blue-white-light blue (1:2:1) with a tree in the middle.
image by Ivan Sache, 16 Dec 2009
Flag vertically divided light blue-white-light blue (1:2:1) with a
golden star in the middle.
These two flags appear to have been designed by Said Beercade.
image by Ivan Sache, 16 Dec 2009
Flag horizontally divided white-light blue with a green vertical
stripe and a triangle at hoist, charged with a grey emblem including a
white star.
This flag appears to have been contributed by Muhyadin Abdullahi
Farah, from Colombus (Ohio, USA).
image by Ivan Sache, 16 Dec 2009
Flag horizontally divided red-white-black, with a thin green
fimbriation between the red and white stripes, a light blue triangle
charged with a white star placed along the hoist and a stylized tree
in the middle.
image by Ivan Sache, 16 Dec 2009
Light blue flag with a large five pointed white star in the middle and a smaller white star in each corner of the flag.
image by Ivan Sache, 16 Dec 2009
Light blue flag with a white crescent and star.
image by Ivan Sache, 16 Dec 2009
Flag vertically divided light blue-green (2:1) with a white crescent
and star facing the hoist in the blue stripe.
image by Ivan Sache, 16 Dec 2009
The second page shows only one proposal, contributed on 04 July 2009 by
Yusuf Cawad.
Flag horizontally divided red-dark blue-black, with a white writing in
the white stripe and a white crescent in the blue stripe, inscribing
seven white stars placed 3+1+3.
Ivan Sache, 16 Dec 2009
Yusuf Cawad has designed four flag proposals which are shown on his blog. These are illustrated below:
image by Ivan Sache, 28 Dec 2009
Flag vertically divided green-white-blue, with a white writing in the green
stripe, a tree in the white stripe, and seven white stars placed 3+1+3 in the
blue stripe. Proposal dated 10 July 2009.
image by Ivan Sache, 28 Dec 2009
Blue flag with a crescent pointing upwards, encompassing seven white
stars placed 3+1+3 and surmounted by white writing, and a white
vertical stripe placed along the hoist and charged with a tree.
Proposal dated 09 July 2009.
image by Ivan Sache, 28 Dec 2009
Flag horizontally divided red-white-black, the black stripe being
higher and the red and white stripes being separated by thin
horizontal green stripes. The red stripe charged with a white writing,
the white stripe charged with a three, and the blue stripe charged
seven white stars placed 3+1+3. Proposal dated 9 July 2009.
image by Ivan Sache, 16 Dec 2009
The fourth proposal as shown and described in my previous posting above.
Ivan Sache, 28 Dec 2009
The Osmaniya writing could be translated as "Dhula Bunt", which probably
means "State of Punt", if one can safely assume the Arabic influence on the
Somali language, which I unfortunately cannot speak.
For some reason, one of the stars on the 7-star design is not aligned.
Does anyone know whether it might be intentional and, if yes, what the reason
could be?
Thanh-Tâm Lê, 28 Dec 2009
