Rwanda Flag

What does the flag of Rwanda look like? The Rwandan flag is a large horizontal blue band and two smaller horizontal yellow and green bands. There is a yellow sun in the top right of the flag.

Meaning of the Flag

The colors of the Rwandan flag hold great significance for the nation. The colors are designed to represent happiness, peace, economic development and the hope of prosperity. In addition to the horizontal tricolor bands, a sun emblem is also located in the top right corner of the flag. This sun was added to the design to represent enlightenment. The flag as a whole is designed to represent the unity of the nation, heroism, and confidence and hope for the future.

Colors of the Flag

There are four colors used in the flag of Rwanda. The first color is light blue, which symbolizes peace and happiness. It is the largest horizontal band on the flag, and it is twice the width of each of the other two bands. The next band is yellow and symbolizes the development of the nation’s economy. The third and final band is green and is symbolic of the hope for prosperity. Another shade of yellow is used to create the sun emblem in the corner, which is symbolic of enlightenment.

History of the Flag

One of the first flags flown in Rwanda was the flag of the German East Africa Company. This flag was later replaced with the flag used by German East Africa the first European colonial power. When Rwanda became known as Ruanda-Urundi, the flag of Belgium was used. It wasn’t until 1959 when a flag for the Kingdom of Rwanda was used. This flag was used for just two years until another flag was adopted. This one was a tricolor using the Pan-African colors of red, yellow and green, with a black letter “R” distinguishing it from the flag of Guinea. This flag was used until 2001 but was changed due to the genocide of 1994. The new flag was adopted on October 25, 2001, and it has remained unchanged ever since.

Flag Facts

The previous flag that was used from 1961 through 2001 was derived from the Ethiopian flag.

The current flag was designed by Alphonse Krimobenecyo.

The flag can be displayed both horizontally or vertically.