Blue and green flag with yellow stripe

Like many other islands in the Indian Ocean and elsewhere, Mauritius was long under colonial rule by both the British and the French. The unique culture that resulted is reflected in the national flag, one of only two in the world with four equal horizontal stripes (the Central African Republic has a four-striped flag that is bisected by a vertical red bar). This flag was chosen in anticipation of independence from colonial rule, which occurred on March 12, 1968, and was first hoisted on that date. Prior to independence, Mauritius displayed the typical colonial flags of the British Empire—the Union Jack, the British Red Ensign, and a version of the British Blue Ensign with a badge representing the colony.

The flag has symbolic attributes for each of its colours. Yellow is said to be the “light of freedom shining over the island,” while red reflects the national struggle for independence. The blue stripe is emblematic of the insular nature of the country and its position in the Indian Ocean. Finally, green refers to the yearlong verdure of the island, based on its subtropical weather. No alterations have been made in the Mauritian flag since independence in 1968.

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By Whitney Smith Article History

horizontally striped green-yellow-blue national flag. It has a width-to-length ratio of 3 to 4.

The French did not allow the development of national flags in their colonies, fearing the flags might become symbols around which separatists could rally. Therefore there were few such traditions in French Africa when autonomous governments were established in 1958 (the year of the new constitution of France). Whereas some countries did not adopt flags for more than a year, Gabon, one of the more progressive of the territories, quickly settled on a distinctive design.

Instead of the vertical stripes of the French Tricolor, which was adopted with appropriate changes in colours by many former colonies, Gabon chose horizontal stripes. However, these were not of equal width: the central yellow stripe was narrower than the green stripe at the top of the flag and the blue stripe at the bottom. Gabon also set itself apart from its neighbours in rejecting the pan-African green-yellow-red and in having the French Tricolor as a canton. None of the other autonomous republics expressed a similar link with the metropolitan country, although Togo, as a trust territory, had the Tricolor in its flag prior to independence.

Shortly before Gabon proclaimed independence from France, its national flag was modified, on August 9, 1960. The French Tricolor was dropped, and the central yellow stripe, symbolic of the Equator, which runs through Gabon, was widened to give it equality with the other stripes. The green stripe symbolizes the extensive forested area, which is one of the country’s most important economic resources. The blue stripe is a reminder of the extensive coast along the South Atlantic Ocean.

What flag has green and yellow stripes?

national flag consisting of three horizontal green stripes, offset by two yellow stripes, and a red canton with a large white star. The flag's width-to-length ratio is approximately 3 to 5.

What does the Solomon Island flag represent?

The diagonal yellow stripe stands for the sun and divides the background into two triangles. The lower (green) triangle stands for the trees and crops of the fertile land. The upper (blue) triangle indicates the importance of water for the islands—rivers and rain as well as the surrounding ocean.

What flag is blue yellow and green with a sun?

Colors and Symbolism of the Flag of Rwanda The current flag of Rwanda of three horizontal bands of blue, yellow, and green. The blue band at the top of the flag is twice as thick as the other bands, and it features a golden sun on the fly side.

What country has a green and blue flag?

The green alludes to the country's natural resources – specifically agriculture and its mountains. – while the white epitomizes "unity and justice". The blue evokes the "natural harbour" of Freetown, the capital city of Sierra Leone, as well as the hope of "contributing to world peace" through its usage.