Flag of DR Congo
A sky blue field with a yellow five-pointed star in the upper hoist corner and a red diagonal band, edged in yellow, running from the lower hoist to the upper fly.
What the flag means
Article 1 of the 2006 constitution describes the flag but does not explain it. The usual explanation is that blue stands for peace, red for the blood of the country's martyrs, yellow for its wealth and the star for a bright future.
History
A new constitution, ratified in December 2005, came into force when President Joseph Kabila promulgated it on 18 February 2006. It brought back a design close to the flag of 1966–1971, with a lighter blue. The flag it replaced, a blue field with a large star and six small stars, had been revived in 1997 from the first flag of independence.
The yellow star on a blue field goes back to the flag of the International African Association, first used in 1877.
Earlier flags of DR Congo
- 1960–1963Blue field with a large yellow star and six small stars along the hoist
- 1963–1971Blue field with a yellow star in the upper hoist and a red diagonal band
- 1971–1997Green flag of Zaire with a yellow disc showing an arm holding a torch
- 1997–2006Blue field with a large yellow star and six small stars, based on 1960
Flags of DR Congo's neighbours
Sources
- Wikipedia: Flag of the Democratic Republic of the Congo
- Flags of the World: Democratic Republic of the Congo
Last reviewed 24 October 2026. Read how we research flags in our editorial policy, or report a mistake.
