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Flag of Somalia
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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The national flag of Somalia was adopted on October 12, 1954, and was designed by Mohammed Awale Liban. The flag was initially used within the Trust Territory of Somaliland[1] before being adopted by the short-lived State of Somaliland and the Somali Republic. It is an ethnic flag for the Somali people; the flag's five-pointed star represents the five regions in which Somalis reside.[2]
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History
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Beginning in the mid-19th century, areas in the Horn of Africa populated by Somalis were divided among Ethiopia, France, Britain, and Italy. Soon after the creation of the UN Trust Territory of Somaliland during 1950, the Somali Youth League persistently advocated for the creation of a national flag. This was rejected by Italian administrators of the Trusteeship until 1954, when a debate was opened in the territorial council. The SYL, being the most popular political organization in the country, initially sought to use their party's flag, but was rejected outright by rival parties. A deadlock ensued until it was broken by the Somali scholar Mohammed Awale Liban who suggested a different symbol from the ones proposed.[3] Liban personally conceived of and designed the flag which was approved by the territorial council on 12 October 1954.[4][5] A flag of the same design was also used by the short-lived independent State of Somaliland between 26 June 1960 and 1 July 1960.
In the Republic of Somaliland
Public display of the flag of Somalia flag is strictly prohibited in the Republic of Somaliland.[6][7]
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Characteristics
As an ethnic flag, the five-pointed white Star of Unity in its center represents the areas where the Somali ethnic group form the majority: Djibouti, Somaliland (former British protectorate), the Somali region in Ethiopia, the North Eastern Province in Kenya, and Somalia (Italian Somaliland).[8][9] However, the flag does still represent all the Somali regions anymore, going from an ethnic flag to the national flag of Somalia only.[citation needed] It now officially denotes the sky as well as the Gulf of Aden, Guardafui Channel and the Somali Sea, which flank the country.[10] The blue color of the flag was selected in tribute to the United Nations who helped to form the country of Somalia during its status as a trust territory from 1950–1960.[4][11]
Somali woman wearing a Somali flag dress.
Somali women at a Khatumo State launch ceremony wearing the Somali flag.
Colors
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Historical flags
The following are the flags historically used in the territory of present-day Somalia:[12]
Pre-colonial states
Flag of the Ajuran Empire (13th century–17th century)
Flag of the Adal Sultanate (1415–1577)
Flag of the Hiraab Imamate (17th century–19th century)
Flag of the Majeerteen Sultanate (1648–1927)
Religious banner of the Isaaq Sultanate derived from an Adal Sultanate flag (1700s–1884)
_flag_according_to_1576_Portuguese_map.svg)
Italian Somalia
Flag of Italian Somaliland (1889–1941)
Flag of Italian Somaliland under British occupation (1884-1960)
Flag of Italy used in the Trust Territory of Somaliland (1950–1960)
Flag of the United Nations (1950–1960)
Co-official/secondary flag of Trust Territory of Somaliland (1954–1960)
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.svg)
British Somaliland
Flag of the United Kingdom used in British Somaliland (1884–1903)
Flag of British Somaliland (1903–1950)
Flag of British Somaliland (1950–1952)
Flag of British Somaliland (1952–1960)- Flag of State of Somaliland (26 June 1960 – 1 July 1960)
.svg)
.svg)
.svg)
Subnational flags
Federal Member States
Flag of Banaadir
Flag of Hirshabelle
Flag of Somaliland (claimed)
Flag of North Eastern
.svg)
See also
Notes
References
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