Flag of Gabon

What the flag means

Green is usually explained as the forests, yellow as the sun and the Equator, which runs through the country, and blue as the sea along the Atlantic coast.

History

French colonial rule did not allow Gabon a flag of its own. After the 1958 referendum made it a self-governing republic within the French Community, Gabon adopted a flag in 1959 with a narrow yellow band and the French tricolour in the upper hoist. Law No. 54/60 of 9 August 1960 removed the tricolour and widened the yellow band, eight days before independence on 17 August 1960.

Gabon marks 9 August as National Flag Day. The law sets a 3:4 ratio, which few national flags share, but flags in use also come in 2:3, 3:5 and 7:10.

Earlier flags of Gabon

1. 1959–1960Green, yellow and blue bands, the yellow narrower, with the French tricolour in the canton

Flags of Gabon's neighbours

• Cameroon
• Republic of the Congo
• Equatorial Guinea